Who is Moffi? All to know about the striker replacing Boniface at AFCON
The Super Eagles’ training camp in Abu Dhabi resulted in a muscle injury that will keep Nigerian striker Victor Boniface out of the AFCON competition for approximately six weeks.
Crisping looks at the OGC Nice player set to fill the void left by the in-form Bayer Leverkusen striker, as Taiwo Awoniyi is also out of the competition following surgery for a recurrent groyne injury. Here are all you need to know about Terem Moffi.
Teremas “Terem” Igobor Moffi (born 25 May 1999) is a 24-year-old Nigerian international who plays as a striker for the French Ligue 1 side, OGC Nice. Moffi was born in Calabar, Nigeria.
Terem Moffi was first called up to the Nigerian national team by former Super Eagles team coach Gernot Rohr for the international friendlies that the country played in June 2021. Since then, Moffi has made 12 appearances and scored 4 goals for the team.
The former forward for Kortrijk began his career in 2017 with Kauno Zalgiris, a Lithuanian team, and later joined Rietari, another Lithuanian team.
Before joining Belgian team Kortrijk, he scored an incredible 20 goals in just 26 games for Rietari. Following his time with Kortrijk, Moffi was signed by Ligue 1 team Lorient after they expressed interest in him.
He was loaned to Nice, where he has revitalised his career, after failing to secure a regular position with Lorient.
Moffi was loaned to OGC Nice from Lorient, and after an outstanding loan term, the French Ligue 1 team signed him permanently.
Terem Moffi scored 12 goals in 32 games for OG Nice in the French Ligue 1 in 2023 alone. Prior to, he scored 34 goals in over 85 games during his tenure at Lorient.
It’s encouraging to see Terem Moffi join Nigeria’s team ahead of AFCON 2023, which kicks off on Saturday, January 13, 2024. Many had questioned the head coach’s AFCON strategy after his initial exclusion.
Moffi’s excellent dribbling abilities allow him to easily swerve past defensive players. His quickness and endurance with the ball are also well-known. However, it should be noted that the young player, who is renowned for his quick feet and decisiveness in the face of goal, has only recently recovered from an injury, so the Super Eagles of Nigeria will use him cautiously.
If José Peseiro plays a double-forward lineup with two strikers for the AFCON 2023 matches, Terem Moffi will be effective. He can play on the wing as well, but his ideal position will be alongside or behind Victor Osimhen, who is renowned for forming alliances with other forwards.
