Superstars in the making: Gift Orban battles Bournemouth winger, 8 others for CAF men's Young POTY

2023 Super Eagles invitee Gift Orban has been nominated for the CAF men's Young Player of the Year award for the first time in his career.

He was nominated alongside Bournemouth winger Dango Ouattara, former Barcelona forward Abdessamad Ezzalzouli and seven others.

Completing the ten-player shortlist are Souleymane Alio (New Stars FC/Burkina Faso), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon/Ghana),  Bilal El Khannouss (Genk/Morocco), and the Senegalese quartet of Lamine Camara (Metz), Papa Amadou Diallo (Metz), Pape Diop (Zulte Waregem) and Amara Diouf (Génération Foot).

Orban has been rewarded for his goalscoring form which has seen him earn interest from clubs in the top five European Leagues. 

Little was known about the 21-year-old until his move to Jupiler Pro League outfit Gent in January but has since become a familiar name.

The diminutive center forward has mustered 27 goals and two assists in 38 games for the Belgian side since he made his debut for the club in February.

Orban also entered the UEFA history book by scoring the fastest hat-trick ever in any European competition courtesy of his three strikes against Istanbul Basaksehir.

While his form in recent months has nosedived, there is no surprise that he is on the list.

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Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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