When Nigerian forward Gift Orban departed Lyon after just a few months, many fans were wonderwhy. Why would a talented 22-year-old striker walk away so soon from a top European club?

Now, the Super Eagles star has broken his silence—and the real reason behind his exit is both revealing and relatable, Footballrover reports.

Gift Orban speaks out on his Lyon exit

The former Genk striker joined Lyon in January 2024, full of hopes to light up Ligue 1.

But instead, he found himself stuck on the bench, managing just three appearances before switching to Hoffenheim.

In a recent interview on Hoffenheim’s official website, Gift Orban explained why his time in France never truly got going.

“I didn’t get many chances, and I also had very strong opponents,” Orban said.
“The coach preferred Alexandre Lacazette in my position; he’s the team captain and a club legend. I wanted to play more, so I moved on. TSG trusts me, and that’s important.”

It was clear: the presence of former Arsenal man Lacazette effectively forced him out of Lyon. But Orban found something more valuable in Germany—respect and belief.

Hoffenheim resurgence after being forced out of Lyon

“Hoffenheim is a good club, but in a difficult situation. Many clubs contacted me in the winter, but here the management treated me with respect and convinced me. I now want to score even more goals and work hard to ensure that we stay in the league.”

Since joining Hoffenheim, Gift Orban has scored four goals in 12 appearances, helping the club climb out of the relegation zone.

“Many people say I have talent. But if you’re talented but don’t work, it’s no use,” he added.

“I work hard in every training session and put in extra shifts, often with Andrej Kramarić, to practice finishing…My ideal balance would be 55 percent work and 45 percent talent. Hard work is always more important,” the Super Eagles star noted.

Though he missed out on Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers, Orban now eyes a Super Eagles return for the four-nation tournament in London this June.

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Last Updated on April 8, 2025 8:49 am by Sir Kris