By Dayo Awoniyi
Super Eagles invitee, Gift Orban, has revealed the surprising secret behind his incredible goal-scoring form for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.
In a candid admission, Orban credits his love for the traditional Nigerian dish—eba and egusi soup—as the driving force behind his success on the pitch.
The 21-year-old striker, who recently made the move from Norway to Hoffenheim, has been in sensational form, netting two goals in just four appearances for The Kraichgauers.
Orban had already established himself as a player to watch during his time in Norway, and his continued goal-scoring exploits in the Bundesliga have only enhanced his growing reputation.
In a fun twist, Orban shared a video on his Instagram story showing himself enjoying a plate of eba and egusi soup as he prepared for Hoffenheim’s upcoming match against Union Berlin.
Gift Orban eating eba and egusi soup
Eba, made from cassava flour, and egusi soup, made from melon seeds, are beloved dishes in many West African homes, and Orban’s affection for the meal has become a key part of his pre-match ritual.
Orban’s playful admission has sparked chatter among football fans, with many curious to know if the secret to his success lies in this humble dish.
While it might be too early to draw conclusions, one thing is clear: Orban is on a mission, and his love for eba and egusi soup seems to be fueling his quest for goal-scoring glory in the Bundesliga.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
