Nigerian stars shine in pre-season friendlies

The pre-season has been a promising period for Nigerian footballers, with two of the country’s brightest talents, Gift Orban and Moses Simon making headlines with impressive performances.

Gift Orban Scores Brace for Lyon

Gift Orban was in sensational form for Ligue 1 side Olympic Lyon, scoring twice in their 4-0 friendly victory over Union Berlin.

Orban, who has faced challenges since his move to France in January, showed his determination by netting both goals in the second half.

The 21-year-old came off the bench at halftime and extended Lyon’s lead with a well-taken goal in the 75th minute, before sealing the win with another goal five minutes later.

Orban now has 3 goals in 5 pre-season matches, signaling a strong start to the new season under coach Pierre Sage.

Moses Simon Scores for Nantes

Meanwhile, Moses Simon also made an impact in a friendly match for Nantes. The winger, who had been sidelined for about three months due to an injury sustained during international duty in March, scored the winning goal with a precise penalty in a 1-0 victory over Ligue 2 side Laval.

Simon’s return to form is a welcome boost for Nantes as they prepare for the new season.

These performances highlight the ongoing contributions of Nigerian players in European pre-season matches and bode well for their upcoming campaigns.