Nigerian striker Gift Orban continues to make a case for a national team call-up with another excellent performance for Belgian side Gent in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday.
The 20-year-old scored four goals in a 6-2 win away to Zulte Waregem at the Elindus Arena to bring his tally to seven goals in five matches since joining the Buffalos in the January window.
Zesklapper aan de Gaverbeek! ????????⚪️ #zwagnt #jpl pic.twitter.com/hKK5r1uBvD
— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) March 12, 2023
Julien De Sart and Alessio Castro-Montes had put the away side two goals up in the first half, but Belgian defender Timothy Derijck pulled one back for Waregem in the 52nd minute.
However, Orban restored Gent’s two-goal lead just a minute later before 33-year-old forward Jelle Vossen got the home side’s second.
The Nigerian then took control of the game with three goals inside fifteen minutes to record his first career hat-trick.
Hattrick Hero +1 ???? #zwagnt #jpl pic.twitter.com/O73ColYcbR
— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) March 12, 2023
After the game, the former Stabaek of Norway striker downplayed his goals but emphasized the importance of the win.
“It is indeed the first time in my professional career. I had never even scored a hat-trick before, but it doesn’t mean much to me in the end.” he told the club media. “Especially the victory is very important.
He further revealed his aspirations to play in the Premier League in the future.
“My level has to be even higher if I ever want to play in the Premier League. There is still a lot of work to be done, so no way am I satisfied yet.”
“I don’t look at the goals I’ve scored, I play my matches and score my goals. You never know, that’s football,” he added.
Orban, who got his side’s equalizer in their Europa Conference League match against Istanbul Basaksehir last Thursday, has now scored nine goals in eight games for Gent.
He would look to continue his lethal form when they travel to Turkey for the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on March 16.
