Belgian Pro league

Jupiler League: Orban begins new campaign in style as Gent pip Kortrijk in five-goal thriller

Orban was one of the best strikers in the Jupiler League last season, and he has started this season with a bang

Nigerian striker Gift Orban scored the third goal for Gent in their 3-2 victory over Kortrijk in their opening game of the new Jupiler League season, Soccernet reports.

Orban has been one of the revelations of 2023. He was a relatively unknown figure until Gent signed him from Stabaek in January, but he has turned out to be one of the club’s best signings ever.

The 21-year-old Nigerian scored 20 goals in 21 games for the Buffalos last season, and he has shown no signs of slowing down.

He retained his spot in the starting eleven when Gent welcomed Kortrijk to the Ghelamco Arena. The home side were always favourites to win, but they did not get the dream start that they would have wished.

The visitors scored just inside five minutes through Abdelkahar Kadir. However, Gent got back on track as Kortrijk defender Aleksandar Radovanovic scored an own goal.

As usual, Orban was up and about. He was heavily involved with Gent’s attack, and they eventually got their second through Hugo Cyupers in the 31st minute.

Orban’s work rate was finally rewarded in the second half. He had registered two attempts earlier, but both were off target. However, he eventually got his goal in the 71st minute via an assist from his Nigerian teammate Jordan Torunarigha.

Orban was taken off five minutes later as Gent have a continental engagement during the week.

Felipe Avenatti scored the final goal of the game in the 86th minute to ensure it ended 3-2.

This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 8:29 pm

Kelvin Omachonu

View Comments

  • COACH PASEIRO SHOULD INVITE GIFT ORBAN AND OTHERS LIKE AKPOM, EBUEHI, OSIGWE, DESSERS, AL-HASSAN, BONIFACE, ONYEDIKA, EJARIA FOR LAST WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST SAO TOME. ALL THESE PLAYERS ARE IN TOP FORM, REGULAR AND CONSISTENT.
    PADEIRO SHOULD STOP INVITING UNFIT, INCONSISTENT, IRREGULAR, BENCH-WARMER PLAYERS LIKE AHMED MUSA, ONUACHU, ARIBO, IHEANACHO, OMERUO, NDIDI. WE ARE TIRED OF SEEING ALL THESE UNFIT OLD CARGO PLAYERS.
    *** WHEN GERNOT ROHR WAS IN CHARGE, HE BROUGHT IN SO MANY NEW PLAYERS LIKE EZENWA, EBUEHI, COLLINS, MIKEL AGU, VALENTINE, AJAYI, AKPOGUMA, SOLOMON OTABOR, MOFFI, IDEYE, IWUALA, OSIMHEN, MAJA, ONUACHU, DESSERS, ARIBO, EJUKE, SAMUEL KALU INTO THE SUPER EAGLE.
    *** INFACT, DURING GERNOT ROHR’s TIME, NO PERMANENT SHIRT FOR ANY PLAYERS. EVEN SOMETIMES, HE SUBSTITUTE & BENCH SOME PLAYERS LIKE ECHIEJILE, MIKEL, IGHALO, MUSA, AKPEI, OGU.
    *** GERNOT ROHR ALWAYS INVITE & USE PLAYERS BASED ON PRESENT FORM (NOT NAMES, EGO, OR SENIORITY AS PASEIRO DOES).
    WE HAVE NOT SEEN ENOUGH GOOD NEW PLAYERS UNDER PASEIRO SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN CHARGE EXCEPT BRIGHT SAMUEL OSAYI & ADELEYE. DESPITE A LOT OF GOOD PLAYERS AT HIS DISPOSAL THAT IS FAR BETTER THAN OLD ONES. FOR INSTANCE: OSIGWE, EBUEHI, BRUNO-ONYEBUACHI, ONYEDIKA, ADARABIOYO, ORBAN, AKPOM, DESSERS, MOFFI, BONIFACE, EJARIA ARE FAR BETTER THAN THE LIKE OF: IZOHO, OKOYE, SHEHU, BASSEY, ETEBO, BONNKE, OMERUO, BALOGUN, MUSA, IHEANACHO, ONUACHU, SADIQ, ARIBO, S.KALU.
    Paseiro, Nigerians are TIRED of OVER RELIANCE of OLD CARGO, UNFIT, INCONSISTENT PLAYERS. PLEASE bring in fit & consistent players.

Share
Published by
Kelvin Omachonu

Recent Posts

Report: Trabzonspor revive interest in Nigerian forward amid Besiktas and Genk links

Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor have reignited their pursuit of Paul Onuachu, seeking to secure… Read More

1 hour ago

Nigeria: Edo Queens miss out on bronze as FC Masar prevail in CAF Champions League shootout

Edo Queens’ hopes of a podium finish at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League ended… Read More

1 hour ago

WAFCON 2024: Super Falcons drawn with Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana in Group B

Nigeria have been placed in Group B for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations… Read More

2 hours ago

Like Didier Drogba warned, Nigerian starlet Moses Jerry beaten by fake Serbian football agent — The Full story

Many young football stars around the world have fallen victim to fake football agents who… Read More

2 hours ago

Watch: Chukwueze infects Rafael Leao with Wizkid fever as he vibes to ‘Kese’

AC Milan star Rafael Leao was recently seen vibing to Kese, Wizkid’s latest track, introduced… Read More

11 hours ago

“He can still play this year” – Boniface’s boss Alonso offers hope amid speculation of year-ending injury

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has provided an update on Nigerian striker Victor Boniface’s injury,… Read More

17 hours ago