Super Eagles prospect, Orban Gift, made European history as he scored three goals in three minutes as Belgian giants K.A.A. Gent thrashed İstanbul Başakşehir 4-1 to progress to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa Conference League on Wednesday night.
Having scored four goals in Gent’s 6-2 victory over Zulte Waregem in the Belgian Pro League over the weekend, the 20-year-old continued his blistering form away from home in Turkiye, on Wednesday, scoring thrice to become the first player to score the fastest hat-trick in any UEFA men’s club competition history.
Orban, who began his career Bison F.C in 2021, opened the scoring for Gent in the 31st minute before netting two more goals in the 32nd and 34th minute to complete the historic hat-trick.
Hugo Cuypers put the Belgian club four-nil up just before the break before former Man United star, Adnan Januzaj, scored a consolation for İstanbul Başakşehir in the cusp of the match as Gent comfortably scaled through to the last eight of the second-ever edition of Conference League.
Nigeria will be facing Guinea-Bissau in a two-legged Africa Cup of Nations qualifier later this month and would be hoping to have Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, beckon upon him when the Portuguese releases the squad for the crucial fixtures any moment from now.