Belgian Pro League club KAA Gent have refused to allow their forward, Gift Orban, to honor Nigeria’s invitation for their 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Guinea.

Orban was among the 16 foreign-based professionals invited to the qualifiers by head coach Salisu Yusuf last Friday.

Gent has, however, turned down the invitation, according to Salisu.

“Orban is out of the two-legged fixtures [vs Guinea U23s]. So we are going ahead to make do with the players we have in camp,” Salisu told reporters in Abuja.

“The home-based boys in camp, with the invited foreign-based, are in good shape, and we are confident they will do well.”

Orban has been in fantastic form since linking up with Gent from Norwegian second-division club Staebek in January.

The 20-year-old has scored ten goals in 12 appearances across all competitions for Gent.