Soccer
Nigeria and Porto star Terem Moffi. Photo by IMAGO
OGC Nice have made public their position that there is no way back at the club for Terem Moffi after his difficult and emotional exit earlier this year, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles striker, alongside teammate Jérémie Boga, left the French club in January following a serious breakdown in relations with supporters and the club hierarchy. Now, Nice co-president Maurice Cohen has confirmed that decision is final.
“They won’t return to Nice, whether their buy options are triggered or not,” Cohen told Ici Azur via GNFN.
Moffi and Boga had initially sought to terminate their contracts after violent scenes outside Nice’s training ground in November 2025. Around 400 supporters confronted the players following a 3-1 defeat to Lorient, Moffi’s former side, in Ligue 1.
Reports from that night described a deeply troubling incident. The players were spat on, punched, and kicked, while also facing racist abuse. The anger from fans came after a run of six straight defeats, with Moffi singled out after he was seen laughing with Lorient’s president post-match.
That moment proved to be the turning point. Moffi was placed on medical and psychological leave in the immediate aftermath. He later filed an official complaint with the Professional Football League’s legal committee and the Ligue 1 judicial commission, citing concerns for his safety.
Sources close to the player indicated he felt the club did not do enough to protect or support him, a key factor in his refusal to play for Nice again. With tensions beyond repair, both parties agreed to loan moves in January. Boga joined Juventus, while Moffi moved to FC Porto.
Soccer Terem Moffi: Fresh start in Portugal with Porto
At Porto, Moffi has begun rebuilding his career in a calmer environment. The 25-year-old reunited with head coach Francesco Farioli, who previously worked with him at Nice, helping ease his transition into the squad.
His start with the Dragons has been steady rather than spectacular, but there are clear signs of progress.
Since arriving in January, Moffi has made eight appearances in Liga Portugal, scoring once and providing one assist, despite starting just one of those matches. In the UEFA Europa League, he has had a bigger impact, scoring twice in seven appearances.
One moment stood out in particular, his decisive goal in a 2-1 away win over VfB Stuttgart in the Round of 16.
Porto, currently pushing for domestic success, see Moffi as a useful attacking option with room to grow. The structure of the deal also works in their favour. The Portuguese club hold an €8 million option to buy, with a 10% sell-on clause included, a figure considered below his estimated market value of around €10 million.
Given Nice’s firm stance and the player’s improved situation in Portugal, a permanent move now appears highly likely.
Imhonlamhen
Imhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years’ experience shaping its editorial voice. A lifelong Arsenal and Super Eagles fan, he combines engineering precision with training in journalism and digital media. He has covered four AFCONs and two Women’s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.
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