PROFILE | Terem Moffi yet to consistently re-create Lorient form at OGC Nice | OneFootball

The pressure was on Terem Moffi to make an instant impact at OGC Nice following his high-profile €22.5m move from Lorient in the winter of 2023. Life with Les Aiglons has gone swimmingly for the Nigerian on the Cote d’Azur.

Moffi initially joined Nice on a loan until the end of the season before completing his transfer in the summer. Nice had big hopes for the Nigerian international forward following 12 goals in 18 games for Les Merlus in the first half of the 22/23 season. The former Lorient forward more than lived up to them too.

The 24-year-old scored nine goals for Le Gym during 20 appearances in all competitions. Moffi’s goal tally domestically slowed down from the first half of the Ligue 1 season with six goals in his first 16 games; still, a respectable tally while adjusting to a new club. However, in his first taste of Europe, the former Kortrijk striker announced himself with a bang. Whilst only playing four times in the Europa Conference League, Moffi scored three goals in 337 minutes of action, including one of the goals of the season.

Moffi yet to re-create last season’s form

In the first leg of Nice’s quarter-final against Basel, the Nigerian international spectacularly beat everyone to a cross to score an outrageous bicycle kick. A special goal from a special player.

The 2023/24 season has been another slow burner for Moffi, with the former Lorient man struggling to recapture the form that earned him his move to Nice. However, the Nigerian striker has still popped up with moments of pure quality to help Francesco Farioli’s high-flying Nice side in their unlikely title challenge. This includes a lesson in world-class striker play against fellow title challengers PSG. Moffi scored a brace and also grabbed an assist as Nice secured a vital 3-2 victory against the Ligue 1 champions.

Despite a slow start to the season, Moffi has proved to be crucial for Nice on more than just one occasion, winning seven points with match-winning goals in the first half of the season. There are certainly levels that the former Zalgiris striker can reach for the Cote d’Azur club that he is yet to find. If Farioli’s Nice can maintain a serious title challenge throughout the 2023/24 season, do not be surprised if Terem Moffi has a big say in the end result in who is crowned champions at the end of the season.

GFFN | Liam Wraith