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Gift Orban opens Hellas Verona goalscoring account in nervy draw vs Juventus

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Gift Orban opens Hellas Verona goalscoring account in nervy draw vs Juventus
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye 

Nigeria striker Gift Orban marked his first goal for Hellas Verona in dramatic fashion during a tense draw with Juventus.

Verona showed glimpses of attacking promise in the opening stages, particularly through the lively runs of the Nigerian forward, yet Juventus maintained much of the control and rhythm of the game.
The turning point came right on the stroke of half-time when Verona were awarded a penalty following a handball by Joao Mario. Orban took responsibility and, despite Michele Di Gregorio guessing correctly and getting a hand to the shot, the striker’s effort found its way into the net.
The goal not only opened his account for Verona but also gave the home fans something to cheer about after a 19th minute strike from Juventus.

Orban’s overall display earned him the Man of the Match award, as his energy and determination caused Juventus persistent problems.

However, the contest was overshadowed by refereeing controversy, with Antonio Rapuano facing scrutiny for his handling of key moments.
His decisions on the night have sparked debate, with reports suggesting that the official now risks being demoted from Serie A to Serie B for his performance in the Verona–Juventus clash.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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