Nigeria vs Sao Tome: Gift Orban, Torunarigha get Gent blessing after Super Eagles first-ever call-ups

KAA Gent superstars Gift Orban and Jordan Torunarigha have departed Belgium for Nigeria with the back of their Jupiler club. 

Orban and defender Torunarigha will link up with the Nigeria Super Eagles for the first time ever ahead of the final round of matches in the Total Energies AFCONQ2023. 

Both players are part of a few new faces invited by Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro for the clash against Sao Tome and Principe. 

Pulse Sports reported that Portuguese manager, Peseiro, had invited 23 players for the dead rubber against Sao Tome this weekend.

The list was made public after the former FC Porto manager and his employers, the NFF, agreed on a new deal that would let Peseiro keep his position as coach of the team. 

Gent’s Orban and Torunarigha, who had completed his switch of allegiance months ago from Germany, were named in the squad for the game. 

Both Belgium-based players and Victor Boniface, who recently moved from Belgium for German side Bayer Leverkusen, were the three new players who made the team for the first time. 

With both players set for their first-ever international break with the West African giant, their club has joined to wish them well. 

The club released a statement on their website where they highlighted players who have departed for their respective countries. 

Gent described Orban’s invitation as a continuation of his ‘fairytale’ while touching on how Jordan chose Nigeria over Germany.

“(Gift) Orban's fairy tale continues,” the club stated. “He became a professional footballer in the summer of 2022 and less than a year later he has his first selection with powerhouse Nigeria.”

On defender, the club added; “(Jordan) Torunarigha recently chose the Super Eagles. With both German and Nigerian nationality, he could play for both teams. Now he too has his first selection.”

Both players have proved decisive in Gent’s solid start to the 2023/2024 season across all competitions. 

Orban has started the season as he ended in the last, with two goals in four matches in the Jupiler while his hat-trick propelled the club to the group stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

His compatriot, Torunarigha, has also had a fine start to the season, with one goal and one assist in five matches in the League.