Lyon fans were far from pleased with Nigerian forward Gift Orban following his controversial Instagram comment after Lyon's 2-2 draw with Auxerre un Ligue 1 over the weekend.
In a heated exchange, Lyon supporters directed their frustration at Orban, who congratulated his former teammate, Sinaly Diomandé, for scoring against their side—a gesture that ignited widespread backlash among fans still reeling from their recent draw in Ligue 1.
The intense home match saw Lyon concede a crucial goal to Diomandé, a former Lyon player now with Auxerre.
Following his goal, Diomandé shared a celebratory post on Instagram, which drew in congratulations from ex-teammates, including Orban, who commented, “Top” along with a flame emoji.
For Lyon fans, however, the message struck the wrong note and only added fuel to an already simmering frustration.
Gift Orban's apology and the fans' reaction
Realising the backlash, Orban quickly took to his Instagram stories to explain, claiming his comment was merely a friendly gesture, not meant to disregard his commitment to Lyon.
In his apology, he expressed regret over the misunderstanding, emphasising his dedication to the club and appreciation for Lyon’s supporters.
“Excuse me, OL fans; I made this comment by mistake. It's just to encourage my friend. I didn't even see that this is the photo from our match. We work hard to win matches and trophies. For OL, I'm sorry. Thanks,” Gift wrote.
Despite his explanation, the incident comes amid a challenging season for Orban. While he has netted two goals in three Ligue 1 appearances, he has struggled to secure a regular spot in Lyon's starting lineup, especially in European fixtures, where his playtime has been minimal.
With the fans’ discontent still fresh, all eyes will be on Orban as Lyon prepare for their upcoming clash against LOSC on Friday, where he’ll hope to regain trust and prove his dedication on the pitch.
