Former Super Eagles forward Simon Zenke has advised Terem Moffi to seek a fresh start at a new club this summer rather than return to OGC Nice, where the Nigeria striker’s relationship with the club’s supporters appears beyond repair, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Moffi has not played for Nice since November, following an incident in which he and Ivorian forward Jeremie Boga were confronted and assaulted by sections of the club’s ultras at the training ground after a 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat to Lorient.
Both players were subsequently placed on administrative leave after reportedly refusing to play for the club again and secured loan moves in January, with Moffi joining Portuguese champions FC Porto.
The loan, however, did not produce the results hoped for. Moffi managed just two goals during his spell at Porto, and the club have declined to activate the €8m purchase option, meaning he is set to return to Nice — a prospect Zenke believes could be damaging to the forward’s career.
“Moffi got a break when he moved to Porto, but it has not worked out the way many people expected, which is sad,” Zenke told Footy-Africa.
“I will not advise him to stay at Nice because that relationship looks broken already, and it will be difficult to repair. France is a good place for him, and maybe another Ligue 1 club could take a chance on him. I hope that happens.”
Nice co-president Maurice Cohen has previously indicated that neither Moffi nor Boga features in the club’s future plans, making a summer exit increasingly likely.
Despite the turbulence at club level, Moffi showed encouraging signs for Nigeria at the Unity Cup semi-final against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, captaining the Super Eagles for the first time and providing assists for both goals in a 2-0 victory. He is expected to start Saturday’s final against Jamaica before turning his attention to next month’s friendlies against Poland and Portugal, with his club situation to be resolved in the weeks that follow.
Read the full article here
