Just a month ago, Gift Orban was a beautiful bride and wanted by many suitors, including Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
The Nigerian striker scored goals for fun and helped his side qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Conference League.
The prolific form of the Belgian striker earned him an invite to the Super Eagles, but despite not featuring in the game against Sao Tome and Principe, it did not hurt his ratings.
Since the close of the transfer market, Gift Orban has not been the same.
The striker has struggled for goals and failed to reenact the form that saw European clubs queuing up for his signature.
What could be the problem with Gift Orban? Could he be reacting to the failed move to Tottenham?
Whatever may be the cause for the slump in form, Gift Orban has to get back to his feet and start doing the business of scoring goals again.
Another bad day at the office for Gift Orban
Gent is sitting atop the Belgian Pro League with 17 points from seven matches despite playing one game less than their closest rivals – Anderlecht.
Gent has had a relatively straightforward campaign this season, but unlike last season, where the prolific striker scored 20 goals in all competitions, he has been quiet.
At the weekend, Gent consolidated their hold atop the Jupiler Pro league with a 2-1 win over Eupen, but Gift Orban had a game to forget.
The Nigerian forward saw only 44 minutes of action against Eupen before seeing his day cut short.
With Gent searching for an equalizer following a 27th-minute goal by Milos Pantovic, Orban committed an off-the-ball foul that saw him receive his first-ever red card.
Gift Orban had hit an Eupen defender in the face, which led to his sending-off.
Gift Orban's goal stats last season
Gift Orban joined KAA Gent on a permanent transfer on January 31 2023 and scored a brace on his Pro League debut in a 3-3 draw with Westerlo on February 11.
He went on a goal-scoring spree, but like it happens to so many strikers, there came a time when the goals dried up.
Gift Orban suffered his longest drought since joining KAA Gent in April 2023.
It was a dry month that saw the Nigerian forward go five games in all competitions without a goal.
The goal drought was from April 8, 2023, in a 1-1 draw with Union SG and stretched till the final game of the season – a 1-2 home loss to KV Ostende.
Gift Orban failed to score in the two-legged affair against West Ham in the UECL.
Orban scored 15 Pro League goals for KAA Gent and five in other competitions.
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Gift Orban goals 2022/23 season |
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| Competition | Matchday | H/A | For | Opponent | Result | Minute | At score |
| Pro League | 25 | A | KAA Gent | KVC Westerlo | 3:3 | 30′ | 1:2 |
| Pro League | 25 | A | KAA Gent | KVC Westerlo | 3:3 | 66′ | 3:3 |
| UECL | Intermediate stage | H | KAA Gent | Qarabağ FK | 6:3 pens | 74′ | 1:0 |
| Pro League | 28 | H | KAA Gent | Anderlecht | 1:0 | 57′ | 1:0 |
| UECL | last 16 | H | KAA Gent | Basaksehir FK | 1:1 | 35′ | 1:1 |
| Pro League | 29 | A | KAA Gent | Z. Waregem | 2:6 | 53′ | 1:3 |
| Pro League | 29 | A | KAA Gent | Z. Waregem | 2:6 | 68′ | 2:4 |
| Pro League | 29 | A | KAA Gent | Z. Waregem | 2:6 | 75′ | 2:5 |
| Pro League | 29 | A | KAA Gent | Z. Waregem | 2:6 | 83′ | 2:6 |
| UECL | last 16 | A | KAA Gent | Basaksehir FK | 1:4 | 31′ | 0:1 |
| UECL | last 16 | A | KAA Gent | Basaksehir FK | 1:4 | 32′ | 0:2 |
| UECL | last 16 | A | KAA Gent | Basaksehir FK | 1:4 | 34′ | 0:3 |
| Pro League | 31 | A | KAA Gent | RFC Seraing | 0:5 | 18′ | 0:1 |
| Pro League | 31 | A | KAA Gent | RFC Seraing | 0:5 | 52′ | 0:2 |
| Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 1 | H | KAA Gent | KVC Westerlo | 3:1 | 88′ | 3:1 |
| Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 2 | A | KAA Gent | Standard Liège | 1:2 | 31′ | 0:1 |
| Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 3 | A | KAA Gent | Cercle Brugge | 0:4 | 51′ | 0:2 |
| Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 3 | A | KAA Gent | Cercle Brugge | 0:4 | 64′ | 0:3 |
| Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 3 | A | KAA Gent | Cercle Brugge | 0:4 | 67 | 0:4 |
| Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 4 | H | KAA Gent | Cercle Brugge | 2:2 | 49′ | 1:1 |
Poor stats in the 2023/24 season
Failing to score in the final games of last season, Orban started the season with a bang, opening his account against MSK Zilina in the UECL qualifiers.
He scored once as Gent beat their opponents 5-1 to qualify for the next round.
The Nigerian forward has found the going arduous and wants to rediscover his form again.
He has scored two league goals this term and four in the UECL.
The curious thing about the Nigerian striker is that he is yet to score any goal away from home this season, with his strike partner Hugo Cuypers leading the way for the club.
Cuypers has not fared much better, as he has three league goals.
With Orban set for time on the sidelines following his red card against Eupen, it should afford him time to relax and get back into his flow.
Perhaps he needs a psychologist to help clear the cobwebs in his head, as the goal frustration probably led to his lashing out and eventual red card.
Gift Orban has beaten his goal drought record of last season, which stood at five games. He is currently on a six-game run without scoring a goal.
| Gift Orban goals 2023/24 season | |||||||
| Competition | Matchday | H/A | For | Opponent | Result | Minute | At score |
| UECL Qualifiers | 2nd Round | H | KAA Gent | MSK Zilina | 5:1 | 23′ | 1:0 |
| Pro League | 1 | H | KAA Gent | KV Kortrijk | 3:2 | 71′ | 3:1 |
| UECL Qualifiers | 3rd round | H | KAA Gent | Pogon Szczecin | 5:0 | 13′ | 1:0 |
| UECL Qualifiers | 3rd round | H | KAA Gent | Pogon Szczecin | 5:0 | 36′ | 2:0 |
| UECL Qualifiers | 3rd round | H | KAA Gent | Pogon Szczecin | 5:0 | 64′ | 5:0 |
| Pro League | 4 | H | KAA Gent | Sint-Truiden | 2:2 | 35′ | 1:2 |
Gift Orban's goal droughts
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LONGEST GOAL DROUGHT AT KAA GENT 2022/23 |
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FIVE GAMES |
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| Date | Competition | Home | Result | Away |
| 08/04/23 | Pro League | KAA Gent | 1-1 | Union SG |
| 13/04/23 | UECL Quarter-Finals | KAA Gent | 1-1 | West Ham |
| 16/04/23 | Pro League | KV Mechelen | 1-1 | KAA Gent |
| 20/04/23 | UECL Quarter-Finals | West Ham | 4-1 | KAA Gent |
| 23/04/23 | Pro League | KAA Gent | 1-2 | KV Oostende |
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LONGEST GOAL DROUGHT AT KAA GENT 2023/24 |
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SIX GAMES |
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| Date | Competition | Home | Result | Away |
| 24/08/23 | UECL Qualifying Round | KAA Gent | 2-0 | APOEL Nicosia |
| 31/08/23 | UECL Qualifying Round | APOEL Nicosia | 1-2 | KAA Gent |
| 03/09/23 | Pro League | KAA Gent | 2-1 | Club Brugge |
| 17/09/23 | Pro League | OH Leuven | 1-1 | KAA Gent |
| 21/09/23 | UECL Group Stage | Zorya Lugansk | 1-1 | KAA Gent |
| 24/09/23 | Pro League | KAA Gent | 1-2 | KAS Eupen |
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
