Gift Orban: More than Just Goalscorer

Nigeria’s Gift Orban is undoubtedly among the most in form players in Europe’s top leagues at the moment.

The show he puts on every week in Belgium gets even more impressive in some ways and it is something that hasn’t been seen before.

The striker became the rave of the moment in Belgium, scoring 12 goals in 10 games for KAA Gent since he joined in January.

Four of the twelve goals came against Zulte Waregem, and he followed it up with a stunning hat-trick against Istanbul Başakşehir in the Conference League three days later.

Last weekend against KAS Eupen, the 20 year-old attacker was not among the goals, but proved he’s more than just a scorer as he showed his importance again with his assist for 1-0, and It was done perfectly with a well controlled and delicious cross.

The 20-year-old later forced a defender into an own goal for 2-0.

“I hadn’t seen this from him yet: the assist,” Belgian Journalist Filip Joos said about that moment in extra-time.

“Everyone is going to run, agree. But he lays it out perfectly. I had only seen the goal scorer. If I were a scout, I would be more pleased with this action than with some of the goals he has already scored.

“If Orban improves that aspect of the game to his arsenal as well, he’ll be well on his way to becoming a truly complete player.”

According to Opta Stats, the Nigerian striker is the first KAA Gent player to score four goals in a Jupiler Pro League game this century.

“I’ve seen him do things right and wrong from a football point of view, but I was stunned by that assist,” Joss concluded.

The former Stabaæk man won the Gantoise Player of The Month award, while one of his goals against Westerlo clinched the Goal of The Month award in February.

The amazing run also saw him win the UEFA Europa Conference League player of the week.