CAF Awards: Gift Orban out of final five-player nomination

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international sensation, Gift Orban has been eliminated from the Young Player of the Year category of the upcoming CAF Awards nomination.

He was nominated alongside Dango Ouattara, Souleymane Alio, Ernest Nuamah, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss, Lemine Camara, Papa Amadou Diallo, Pape Diop and Amara Diouf for the award.

However, in the final nominee shortlist released by CAF, the 20-year-old along with five other candidates, were dropped, leaving a shortlist of five nominees for the coveted prize, rewarding up-and-coming superstars.

Orban, Souleymane Alio, Ernest Nuamah, Papa Amadou Diallo, and Pape Diop were dropped from the initial shortlist, leaving Dango Ouattara, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss, Lemine Camara, and Amara Diouf as the final shortlist for the award.

The striker joined Belgian League after signing for Gent in January 2023 from Norwegian lower-tier side Stabaek, and he has been a revelation since then.

Despite registering 27 goals and two assists in 38 games for the Buffalos, the forward have to work harder.

The award is only for players aged 21 and below, and the last Nigerian to win it was Alex Iwobi.