Nigerian Striker, Gift Emmanuel Orban, has scored his first goal for Olympique Lyon in a 2-1 win over Lille in the Coupe de France round of 16.
Orban was not only lauded for the goal but also how he skillfully chipped the ball over the goalkeeper to the back of the net.
The 21-year-old signed for Lyon in a 12m euros transfer deal from Gent in 2024.
Orban, Benue-born Nigerian international joined Olympique Lyonnais in January 2024 from Gent, for whom he made 33 league appearances in total, scoring 18 goals and providing two assists.
Orban has appeared in two Ligue 1 matches in 2023/2024 since joining the club on January 18, 2024, starting in one of these and being used in a substitute role on one occasion.
Orban last featured in a league game on February 4, playing 70 minutes for Olympique Lyonnais versus Olympique Marseille in a 1-0 win.
His first goal for Ligue 1 side, however, sparked reactions from social media users with some regretting why he was not in the squad for the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’ivoire.
𝗝𝗲𝘂 𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲́𝗹𝗲́𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲́ ⚽⚡✨
Ce premier but sous le maillot lyonnais de Gift Orban ! 🤩🔴🔵#OLLOSC | @coupedefrance pic.twitter.com/01diXyGjyw
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) February 8, 2024
Regretting while they did not buy him @TottenhamAwayTV, said “Gift Orban the player our scouts recommended to our Spurs recruitment team signed for Lyon last month for £11m (€13m)… we decided to sign Timo Werner on the cheap instead.
“Gift Orban scored today when have you seen Werner, Gil or Johnson do this?
We need new wide forwards!.”
@Hbfooty while replying @TottenhamAwayTv, write, “There was his first goal contribution since signing after 2 dud performances … In Ligue 1 …. You’d be calling him the typical cheap option and not good enough before he even scored for us.
“Also doesn’t Brennan have 6 goal contributions?”
@TottenhamWayTv replied @HBfooty, “Brennan has played half a season not 2 games in Ligue 1 like Orban.
“Brennan only has goal contributions against the bottom 10 teams he’s a ghost against the Top 8 sides and absolute comedy show against the proper sides.”
Another social media user, asking he could play in the African Cup of Nations final@lecool_iconic, wrote, “Is there any way Gift Orban can play the AFCON final this wonderkid is amazing.”
Optimistic that he will play in this next AFCON@Updatedboyx, said, “Gift Orban will be available by then. We’re winning the Afcon back2back 😎😎🐐”
@beshortlisted while backing@updatedboyx comments, wrote, “Absolutely! With talents like Gift Orban in the mix, Nigeria’s chances of winning the Afcon back-to-back look promising! 🇳🇬⚽😎 Let’s go Super Eagles! #Believe #Afcon2024 🏆🐐”
Also@Hazbiyallu, noted, “I said this yesterday, Terrem Moffi, Gift Orban, Samu Odiomorion in Alaves and so many more.
“Painful we wouldn’t be able to watch most of Nigerians top 9 start for the Super Eagles 💀🤧.
“We really got loads of better better strikers!.”
