Gift Orban wins Europa Conference League Player of the Week award following hattrick

Nigerian striker Gift Orban has won Europa Conference League Player of the Week award following his hat-trick heroics for Gent on Thursday.

After netting four goals in Gent’s 6-2 win against Zulte-Waregem in the Belgian Jupiler last Sunday, Gift Orban bagged a hat-trick as Gent thrashed Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1 away in the second leg to advance into the quarter-finals.

Gift orban wrote his name in the record books by scoring the quickest hat-trick in the history of UEFA club competition. The 20-year-old also scored Gent’s goal in the first leg in Belgium which ended 1-1.

He grabbed the hat-trick in three minutes and 25 seconds which eclipsed the landmarks set in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. He now has five goals in four appearances in the Europa Conference League this season.

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Orban grew up in Togo as well as Nigeria, and speaks French In November 2021, he was scouted by stabeaks Torgeir and Thomas Finstad in Nigeria during a showcase tournament arranged by agent Atta aneke.

He trained with Stabæk during the winter of 2022 before returning after his visa expired. Returning to Norway, he signed for Stabæk in late May 2022. The transfer from Nigerian club Bison FC was a loan with an option to buy.

He scored his first goals in cup matches against semi-professional teams Nottoden and Gjovik-lyn (twice). After this he became a starting player for Stabæk. His goal against SK brann was compared to Alanzinhos time at Stabæk.

He became the top scorer in the 2022 Norwegian First Division with 16 good goals, alongside Bard Finne. Helping Stabæk win promotion to 2023 Eliteserien, Orban was also named Young Player of the Year in the First Division. The contract tying Orban stabeak.