March, 16 2023.
KAA Gent of Belgium striker, Gift Orban scored what should officially go down in the history of European football, as the fastest hat trick in both the Europa Conference League, and all three elite clubs competitions, Organised by UEFA, football's governing body in Europe.
Against Istanbul Basaksehir of Turkey on Wednesday night, 20 year old Gift Orban netted three (3) goals within an incredible 3 minutes 25 seconds, to cease virtually all major headlines and talk on major football talk shows, in and out of Europe.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria prospect, who already wears the crown of the Golden Boy of the Belgian Jupiler League only during the weekend, hauled a quadruple of goals, against Zulte Waregem in the Belgium top flight.
At only 20 years of age, Gift Orban has joined Nigeria players whose name will always be crested in gold in Belgian football folklore.
Remarkably, other African Stars to hit fastest hat-tricks in Europe's elite club competitions are Mohamed Salah of Egypt - 6 mins - in the Champions League; Zambia's Patson Daka - 9 mins - in the Europa League and now in the UECL Gift Orban.
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang; he scored all four goals in an eventful second half on Saturday and his unprecedented hat trick on Wednesday, made it an incredible total of seven (7) goals, struck in just two matches.
His clinical finishing, predatory instinct as a goal poacher, has made the 20 years old the toast of all in the Belgian top division; and back home in Nigeria voices of many, including former internationals have been loud in calling for his immediate inclusion in the Super Eagles squad, by Coach José Peseiro.
Gift Orban has been the true replacement of Paul Onuachu in the Jupiler League; and Belgium has again proved to be truly a home and fertile ground for Nigerian Internationals, starting from the days of Late Stephen keshi, Chidi Nwanu, Daniel Amokachi, Celestine Babayaro; and the young generation of players like Moses Simon, Uche Agbo, Anderson Esiti, Taiwo Awoniyi, Paul Onuachu and the present world rave of the Moments Victor Osimhen whose journey of Progressive Union truly began in Beigium before he moved to Lille in France and onto SSC Napoli, where he is presently enjoying the best form of his career, banging in goals week in week out, for the Sccudetto chasing, Serie A leaders.