Nigerian striker Gift Orban, currently with Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, has spoken candidly about the stark differences between poverty in Europe and Africa, describing his personal experience growing up in hardship.
In a recent interview with L’Équipe, Orban said, “I can’t explain it because you won’t understand. You were born in Europe, and it’s not like being born in Africa.” He emphasized that while poverty exists in both regions, the conditions in Africa are far more severe.
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He explained, “If you’re poor in France, the government and charities can help you and take care of you. In Africa, no one gives you anything — you starve.”
Gift Orban, who grew up in Benue State, Nigeria, detailed how extreme poverty shaped his determination to succeed. “That’s why so many of us want to play football. Where I grew up, if you’re from a poor family, life feels impossible.”
Now playing in Germany after stints in Norway, Belgium, and France, Orban said his goal is not just personal success but also to uplift others. “I want to succeed in life so I can help not just my family, but all poor people and orphans.”
The 23-year-old added, “There’s poverty in Europe and poverty in Africa, but they’re not the same. You can’t compare them. You’d have to live it to understand. You wake up in the morning and find nothing to eat — don’t ask me to explain further.”
Orban joined Hoffenheim earlier this year and is preparing for the 2025–26 Bundesliga season. He is considered one of Nigeria’s most promising attacking talents and continues to draw attention both for his footballing abilities and his outspoken views on social issues
