Super Eagles News: Gift Orban Set for National Team Debut

Exciting reports coming from the Nigerian football news scene indicate that KAA Gent superstar, Gift Orban, will be making his Nigeria Super Eagles debut soon.

Orban is one of a number of Nigerian attackers who have painted the country's footballing talent in a new light on the global stage.

He has stood out as the best attacker in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League since moving there in January from Stabæk Fotball in Norway, immediately replacing former KRC Genk striker Paul Onuachu, who is now in England with Southampton.

It is a call-up that has long been awaited by many Nigerians.

Wild Jubilation As Free-Scoring Gift Orban [20] Gets Super Eagles Invitation 🇳🇬

Meanwhile, a top forward in the Super Eagles team will be dropped for the 20-year-old 🥶

The Kid has 19 goals in 19 games for Gent since joining from Norwegian Second Division Stabaek last January pic.twitter.com/hGvjM875P2

— Naija Sports (@naijasports_) May 18, 2023

Orban, the best performing Nigerian player abroad after Victor Osimhen

In-form forward, Gift Orban is of Togolese descent through his mother and he grew up in both countries because they share a border.

The 20-year-old moved to Europe for the first time in his life in 2021, when he was scouted by Stabæk during a showcase tournament organised by Nigerian super agent Atta Aneke.

He would move to the Norwegian second division side in January 2022 but following visa issues, he would not make his full debut for the team until May 2022.

He became invaluable to their season, scoring 16 goals in 22 league appearances and helping the team win promotion to the Eliteserien, the first tier of Norwegian football.

Despite having signed a contract to keep him in Norway until 2026, Gent would throw money at the Norwegian side which they could not refuse and in January 2023, he would move to the Jupiler Pro League.

He has since scored 14 goals in 13 league appearances and 19 goals in 19 total appearances across all competitions for them. This has attracted the interest of top sides across Europe and has also helped him to generate some buzz in the Nigerian football news scene.

Orban to move straight into senior Nigeria team after rejecting U-23

Orban is now set to make his Super Eagles debut ahead of the upcoming AFCON 2023 qualifiers fixtures. Should he make a good impression on José Peseiro, the NFF, Nigeria's football governing body, would not need their technical committee to make a case for him to be included in the AFCON 2023 final squad.

This comes after Orban rejected a call-up to the Nigeria national football team U-23 side in March. The rejection was a result of his club's insistence on him not linking up with Salisu Yusuf and his team because they wanted him to rest during the international break.

Goalball Live understands that Orban will be joining the Super Eagles after Peseiro's tour of Belgium to watch him, Victor Boniface, Valentine Ozornwafor and Raphael Onyedika yielded positive scouting reports.

51' – Goal ⚽
64' – Goal ⚽
67' – Goal ⚽

Gift Orban bags his 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗗 hat-trick for Gent! He only joined in January 😳 pic.twitter.com/36GGpOJlde

— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) May 13, 2023

The 20-year-old's inclusion could see Onuachu dropped from the team that will face Sierra Leone this June and later Sao Tome and Principe in September.

Orban could also use the opportunity to solidify his pedigree among the scouts from the various Premier League sides who are looking to sign him.

It was recently reported that Erik ten Hag of Manchester United is looking at him as a cheaper alternative to Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane.

What are the odds that Orban will move to a big club this summer? Pretty high it must be said. Away from the transfer odds and talk, you can use the insights to play along and earn big rewards on actual games. Use the Betway sign up code and 1xbet promo code if you're a new user in Nigeria.