Olympique Lyonnais and Belgium U-21 winger, Malick Fofana, has lifted the lid on the inability of Gift Orban to hit the ground running in the French Ligue 1 and also backed the player to come good for the club despite failing to create a good impression in his first few games.
Orban, 21, had a stellar career in Belgium with KAA Gent, scoring 32 goals in 52 games, and earned himself a first-time call-up to the Super Eagles squad late last year although he was not fielded by former coach Jose Peseiro over unresolved eligibility issues.
The center forward’s goal-scoring prowess in Belgium saw the seven-time French Ligue 1 champions splash €15m on the Nigerian, but he is yet to score a goal in eight league games for Les Gones.
Fofana, Orban’s teammate, has jumped to defend the Nigerian, claiming he needs time to adapt, although he can also be very difficult to criticize.
“Oh, Gift has to adapt. There are different rules here than in Gent. He has had a hard time with that. He’s a special, but good guy. In the meantime, everyone knows him a little,” the 18-year-old Belgian winger said in quotes revealed by Voetbalkrant.
Just like Orban, Fofana was also swooped from Gent in the winter transfer window, leading to a drop in form for the Belgian powerhouse, but the fleet footed winger believes they’ll see a resurgence in the near future.
“A team does not depend on one player. I was surprised about the relapse, but in football, anything is possible. Do I still have contact with people from Gent? Yes, especially with Jordan Torunarigha, Archie Brown and Tarik Tissoudali,” Fofana added.
