Former Nigeria youth international Sambo Choji talking exclusively to Footy-Africa expressed belief that Gift Orban still has what it takes, but insists he must start showing more discipline and focus if he wants to reach his potential.
Gift Orban’s career has taken a difficult turn since leaving Belgian side KAA Gent, where he was once a goal machine.
“When Gift moved to Germany I was very excited as I always love seeing Nigerians play in the Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2. In fact, when he started scoring, I was very happy and I kept telling my friends that they will see more of the young lad. Unfortunately, that did not happen,” Choji said in the exclusive interview with Footy-Africa.
“I am not sure of what went wrong exactly, but my friends in Germany said Orban, despite his obvious talent, needs to buckle up and do better especially with team bonding,” he added.
Choji, who also spent time in Germany, added that adapting to different environments is key if Orban wants to succeed.
“Now, with his impending move to France, I just hope we get to see more from him like he used to do. The boy is a born goal scorer and I hope he can get back into the goals again. I wish him well in France with Toulouse if the move finally happens,” Choji concluded.
Gift Orban to leave Hoffenheim, Toulouse lead race to sign him
Orban’s move to Lyon in 2024 was supposed to be the next big step, but instead it turned into a short and frustrating spell. The 23-year-old Nigerian striker managed just five appearances in France, scoring two goals before disciplinary issues and a dip in form pushed him out of the picture.
By January, Orban was on the move again, this time to Germany with Hoffenheim in a €9m deal. He started well hitting the ground running in the Bundesliga, scoring four goals in his first six games, and many thought the old Orban was back.
But his spark didn’t last for a long time. As the season wore on, he lost his starting spot and ended up finishing the campaign on the fringes once again. In total, he managed 13 appearances and four goals before Hoffenheim decided he wasn’t the long-term answer.
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Reports from France now suggest that Toulouse FC are set to take him on loan with an option to buy, offering him yet another chance to prove himself.
Orban’s career is still young, and while the last year has been filled with setbacks, the raw talent is undeniable.
If he can learn from his struggles in France and Germany, Toulouse may yet prove to be the platform where he finds consistency and confidence once again.
