Super Eagles Striker Moffi Loses out on Top Ligue 1 Award

Super Eagles Striker Moffi Loses out on Top Ligue 1 Award
Credit: Icon Sport

OGC Nice striker Terem Moffi was not considered for the Marc-Vivien Foe award in the French Ligue 1, despite his incredible season that saw him bag 17 league goals for Nice and Lorient in the 2022/23 season.

DR Congo defender Chancel Mbemba of Olympique de Marseille was the recipient of the award, which is presented to the best player of African descent playing in the French top flight.

A number of Nigerian players have played in the league and a number have been nominated for the award. Only two, however, have been bestowed with the honour since its inception.

Osimhen, Enyeama remain only Nigerians to win award after Moffi snub

Terem Moffi has been a hit since landing in the French top flight from Belgian Jupiler Pro League side Kortrijk in 2020.

Signed by Lorient, the 24-year-old enjoyed successes on a personal level which helped him get noticed by the handlers of the Nigeria national football team in 2021.

In the just-concluded season, Moffi played the first half of the season with Lorient before joining Nice on loan in the January transfer window. By the end of the season, he had bagged 17 goals to take his tally in Ligue 1 to 39 goals in 96 appearances.

Nice also made it to the UEFA European Conference League quarter finals thanks to his efforts.

His fine season saw him nominated for the Marc-Vivien Foe award alongside eventual winner Mbemba, Ivory Coast international Seko Fofana, and a few others. Moffi came third in the award which was announced during a broadcast on Radio France International (RFI) and France 24 television.

Mbemba is the second DR Congo player to win the award after Gaël Kakuta while Moffi joins a list of Nigerians to have been nominated.

Only Victor Osimhen and Vincent Enyeama, who both played for LOSC Lille, have won the award among Super Eagles players to have played in the French Ligue 1.

Terem Moffi beats Hakimi, others to 2023 Marc-Vivien Foe award top three finish

The Marc-Vivien Foe award, which is named after the former Cameroon international who slumped and died while on international duty for his nation, recognises amazing talents who are affiliated with African national teams regardless of their birth nations.

The award was first given in 2009, 14 years ago, to former Morocco international Marouane Chamakh, who played for Bordeaux at the time. Ivory Coast international Gervinho is the only player to have won the award twice, winning it back-to-back in 2010 and 2011.

Lille is the club with the most winners, having seen five players win the award since its inception.

Nice would have won their first if Terem Moffi had beaten Fofana and Mbemba to the award.

Making the top three is a big deal for the 24-year-old striker, however, who contended for the podium spots with Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi among others.

Moffi could be leaving Ligue 1 in the summer, however, as transfer news and rumours of his move to a Premier League side have made the rounds in the Nigerian football news media.

Goalball Live also understands that Borussia Dortmund have shown interest in the striker but the depth of their interest in the AFCON 2023 squad hopeful is unknown.

Goalball Live congratulates Moffi for the achievement and wishes him the best in the future.

This article was most recently revised and updated 10 months ago

Daniel Kolade
All-round lover of the beautiful game. Massive football fan, supported Arsenal for decades for reasons that are unexplainable. One day we will win the Champions League!
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