Nigerian striker Gift Orban vows to help Hoffenheim avoid relegation

Nigerian striker Gift Orban has set his sights on helping TSG Hoffenheim avoid relegation from the Bundesliga this season.

Die Kraichgauer currently sit 14th on the league table with 27 points – five points away from the relegation play-off zone after 28 league matches. 22 year old Orban, joined Hoffenheim from Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais in January and has made a promising start, scoring four goals in 12 appearances.

"Hoffenheim is a good club, but in a difficult situation. Many clubs contacted me in the winter, but here the management treated me with respect and convinced me," he told the club’s website. "I now want to score even more goals and work hard to ensure that we stay in the league," he concluded.

Despite his impressive club performances, Orban missed out on the Nigeria squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.

He will hope to maintain his form and secure a place in Nigeria's squad for the upcoming four-nation tournament in London this June and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. Hoffenheim will host Mainz this weekend, looking for their first win in 5 games.