Nigerian Attacker Continues Hot Form with Late Winning Goal.
Nigeria’s Gift Orban confirmed his rising status in Italian football with a stunning performance as Hellas Verona defeated Fiorentina 2–1 in a Serie A clash on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
The 23-year-old Nigerian forward, who has been increasingly influential in the Verona attack this season, came off the bench and delivered a brace that changed the course of the match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence.
Orban opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, finishing a swift counter-attack to give Verona the lead heading into halftime. Fiorentina managed to pull level through an own goal by Unai Núñez in the 69th minute, but Orban’s late heroics in stoppage time (90’+3) sealed the victory for Verona.
Key Moments
- 42’ – Gift Orban (Verona): Clinical finish to make it 1–0.
- 69’ – Own Goal (Fiorentina): Unai Núñez turns the ball into his own net to level the match.
- 90’+3 – Gift Orban (Verona): Orban strikes again to clinch the win.
Hellas Verona’s win moves them out of immediate danger in the relegation battle with a crucial three points, while Fiorentina remains bottom of the table and still searching for form in the domestic league.
Orban has now established himself as one of Nigeria’s most in-form forwards in Europe’s top leagues, with this brace elevating his Serie A goal tally and further strengthening his case for continued involvement with the Super Eagles setup.
His performance drew praise from teammates, with Verona’s defender Armel Bella-Kotchap describing Orban as “exceptional” following the match — an acknowledgment of his influence on the day.
Beyond the goals, Orban’s overall contribution reflected his growing maturity in Italian football, as his movement, pressing, and composure under pressure unsettled the Fiorentina defence throughout his time on the pitch. The Nigerian striker’s ability to deliver in decisive moments continues to underline his importance to Hellas Verona this season and reinforces the increasing influence of Nigerian players making their mark in Europe’s top leagues.
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