Photos: Nigerian Prodigy radiates joy and playfulness in pre-season training

Nigerian attacker who was snubbed by Jose Peseiro in his 23-man list enjoys training with K.A.A Gent players in preparation for new season

Nigerian and K.A.A Gent forward, Gift Orban, appears to be relishing his time in Belgium, as captured in recent training pictures, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 20-year-old rising star made headlines last season with the fastest hat trick in European club competitions, netting three goals in a remarkable 205 seconds during his club's UEFA Conference League tie.

Despite his impressive European performance, Orban was overlooked for a national team call-up by Super Eagles' head coach Jose Peseiro, despite his notable displays last season. Undeterred, he has returned to training with his club as he prepares for his second season in Belgium.

Photos shared on K.A.A Gent's Instagram account showcases Orban in high spirits, as evidenced by his smiling face. In one picture, he can be seen enjoying the company of one of the club's coaching staff while displaying his skills on the pitch.

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Last season marked a breakthrough for Orban, as he made 22 appearances for his club, scoring an impressive 20 goals and providing two assists.

His sensational performance in the UEFA Conference League round of 16, where he scored a quickfire hat trick, helped propel his team to the quarterfinals.

Gent's pre-season campaign will kick off with a match against Belgian amateur side Merelbeke on June 30th, followed by a league fixture against Kortrijk a month later.