The controversy surrounding the international future of newly invited Super Eagles forward Gift Orban was once again opened for discussion when he turned up in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Eligible for Togo through his mother, Orban was among the 23 players called up for the senior national team of Nigeria dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo on Sunday. He was called up on the back of an impressive season with Gent last term and even this season.
Since joining Gent in January from second division Norwegian side Stabæk, he has scored an astonishing 26 goals in 31 games, and it includes 20 in 22 games last season.
No sooner has he arrived in the camp of the Nigerian team the media in Togo labelled him as a traitor, who has turned his back on the country that helped him actualize his dream of playing professional football.
Reacting, the 21 year old said at no point was he approached to play for the Togolese team and even if they did , he would have turned it down because he only wanted to play for Nigeria, the country of his father.
” I don’t like Nigeria, I love it, this country has good players, good talents I love it. It is false, I never played for Benin Republic or Togo. Not at any time was I approached to play for any of them. Togo needs players but I don’t want to play for Togo. My mum is from Togo while my father is from Nigeria, Takum in Benue state”, he stated.
Ade Emmanuel
