Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has rubbished reports that Gent forward Gift Orban didn’t make his debut for Nigeria in yesterday’s 6-0 win due to threats from Togo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Orban is born to a Nigerian father and a Togolese mother and spent the best part of his growing years and football development playing in Togo, from where he moved to second division Norwegian side Stabæk.
He joined Gent of Belgium in January and immediately hit the ground running with 20 goals in 22 games. His form earned him a call up to the Nigerian team much to the dismay of the football populace in Togo.
The 21 year old was branded a traitor by some online publication and radio programs in Togo after he granted an interview, confirming that he has always wanted to play for Nigeria and never at anytime considered the choice of playing for Togo.
” 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 in the interview that didn’t go down well with a section of the media in Togo.
It was said in some quarters the reaction from the media in Togo was why he didn’t get to play yesterday, but Peseiro explained the reason behind his absence in the post match press conference, which he said was purely fitness related.
“Orban felt something in his muscles, he cannot play with an injury of course because we need to show responsibility as a team. For the club we have a good connection with the clubs and we can not play injury player for nothing”,he explained.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
