Gift Orban issues warning to Europa Conference League rivals after historic hat-trick

Gent’s Gift Emmanuel Orban celebrates after scoring during a soccer game between Turkish Istanbul Basaksehir FK and Belgian KAA Gent in Istanbul, Turkey, in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Photo: AFP

Gift Orban has issued a stern warning to KAA Gent’s opponent in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League with the Nigerian forward insisting that they want to go very far in the competition.

Orban continued his impressive scoring run as he netted a hat-trick in Gent’s 4-1 win away to Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa Conference League round 16 second leg tie.

On Sunday, Orban netted four goals in Gent’s 6-2 win away to Zulte-Waregem in the Belgian Jupiler. In the first leg against Basaksehir, Orban got the goal for Gent which earned them a 1-1 home draw.

But on Wednesday, Orban scored in the 31st, 32nd and 34th minutes in the Conference League victory with his second goal the best of the bunch.

The 20-year-old scored a special second goal from long-range. After a neat flick in the build-up, he powered a shot from way out past the goalkeeper at the near post.

After the game, he spoke to the official Gent website, saying that he and his team-mates want to go far in the Europa Conference League: “The quarter-final is not our final goal.

READ MORE: Nigerian striker Gift Orban scores fastest hat-trick in UEFA club competitions

“We are happy with the qualification but now, we have to focus on the remaining matches in the competition.” Orban arrived from Stabaek in January and is already into double digits with 12 goals in nine appearances in all competitions.

The Nigerian will almost certainly be linked to clubs in bigger European leagues as early as the summer with the Conference League giving him the