Gift Emmanuel Orban: The KAA Gent talent who is already writing history

Gift Emmanuel Orban has written history. The 20-year-old Nigerian striker scored the fastest hattrick in any European competition in KAA Gent’s victory over Turkish club Basaksehir FK. In the first half, Orban scored a hattrick within just four minutes—the fastest record in UEFA history.

Orban already scored his club’s only goal in the first leg (1-1), and his hattrick in the return match paved the way for Gent to reach the quarterfinal. Hugo Cuypers made it 4-0 before the break. Former Man United prospect Adnan Januzaj scored the only goal for the Süper Lig club

UEFA record holder: But who is Gift Emmanuel Orban?

With that hattrick in the Conference League, Orban will now have secured his name in the football history books. But it is also important to point out that the Nigerian striker is one of the most exciting talents playing in Belgium football at the moment. Signed from the Norwegian second-division side Stabæk Fotball in January for €3.3m, Orban has already scored 12 goals in nine games across all competitions.

Right after joining Gent, Orban highlighted that he is a special player, showing maturity beyond his playing experience. “Although he came from the Norwegian second division, he immediately started to give instructions to the midfielders of Gent about how he needs the ball,” Transfermarkt Area Manager Belgium Bart Tamsyn said. “And he sees himself destinated for much more. After scoring four goals in the league on Sunday against Zulte Waregem (6-2)—the first time since 1958 that someone from Gent scored four times in a competitive game—he was not impressed with his own performance and said this changes nothing for him.”