KAA Gent goal machine Gift Orban has pledged his international future to the Nigeria national team, rather than the Togolese Republic.
The Nigeria Football Federation moved a step ahead of the Togolese Football Federation (FTF) by handing Orban his maiden call-up to the Nigerian national teams ahead of the 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea.
Contrary to spurious reports in the local and foreign press, this website can reiterate that Orban was stopped from honoring the call-up because the invitation letter was sent late by the Nigerian Federation and it had nothing to do with the striker playing too many games for KAA Gent.
FIFA rules state that clubs are obliged to release their registered players to the representative teams of the country for which the player is eligible to play on the basis of his nationality if they are called up by the association concerned. Any agreement between a player and a club to the contrary is prohibited’.
KAA Gent would have run into hot water with FIFA assuming the Nigerian Federation notified the Belgian Pro League side of Orban’s invitation earlier than they did.
Olympic Eagles boss Salisu Yusuf decided to add Orban to the roster same week he scored seven goals – four in the league and the fastest hat-trick in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
For the first time ever, it can be revealed that Orban is eligible to represent Togo’s Sparrow hawks because he has a Togolese mother.
