In the wake of the confirmation that Gent of Belgium forward Gift Orban is not in the Super Eagles provisional list of 55 players for the Africa cup of nations, OwnGoalnigeria.com suggest it has a lot to do with his true nationality like we reported in September.
A member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it is true that there is confusion over the nationality of Orban, who was invited to the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria for first time in the build up to the 6-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
22 year old Orban took Europe by storm last season scoring 20 goals in 22 games following his January transfer move from second division Norwegian side Stabæk to Gent. He was rewarded with a first time call up to the senior national team of Nigeria.
Orban didn’t make the match day squad for the game with head coach Jose Peseiro saying he pulled up injured in their penultimate training. It however appears there is more to it than what meets the eyes.
Speaking on the non invitation of the forward for the upcoming friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively, the NFF technical committee member said Orban might not play for the Super Eagles anytime soon.
” We received a correspondence from the Togolese FA with documents showing that he is from Togo and even though we know he has Nigerian roots through his father, there are some other stuff around his invitation that requires clarification”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.
” I am not sure he will get to play for the Super Eagles anytime soon. That issue is way bigger and could have a huge consequence on his career if we don’t treat it with caution. For now we have not make any further attempt other than leave him out”, he concluded.
Despite recent reports suggesting that he has been given the all clear to play for Nigeria, his omission from the AFCON provisional list is connected to the case with head coach of Nigeria Peseiro not entirely convinced by the explanation of the forward on the issue.
