Nigeria and Gent forward Gift Orban has been selected as one of the nominees for the best men’s young player of the year at the CAF Awards, the continent’s football body announced on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old forward, who is Nigeria’s sole representative in this category, has been drawn against some of the best young talents on the continent. He will fight off competition from Django Outtara (Burkina Faso), Souleymane Alio (Burkina Faso), Ernest Nuamah (Ghana), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco), Bilal El Khannous (Morocco), and the Senegalese quartet of Lamine Camara, Papa Amadou Diallo, Pape Diop, and Amara Diouf.
10 superstars in the making. ????
Your nominees for Young Player of the Year (MEN) award.#CAFAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/f9lTsw3YA8
— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 1, 2023
Orban, who sprung onto the limelight in the 2022–23 season, has been a revelation across Europe with his goal-scoring ability for the Belgian side.
He scored 20 goals and provided two assists for Gent in 22 appearances last season, including scoring three hat-tricks.
The winner of the category will be disclosed at the CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco, on December 11.
