OGC Nice striker Therem Moffi faces disappointment after missing out on the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations due to a hamstring injury, Soccernet.ng can reveal.
Moffi’s hopes of making his 16th start of the season against Le Havre were dashed when he suffered a hamstring injury. Moffi’s hopes were dashed hours before the match with a hamstring injury, OGC Nice confirmed in a tweet.
Touché aux ischios, Terem Moffi ne figure pas sur la feuille de match, tout comme Teddy Boulhendi et Daouda Traoré.#HACOGCN #OGCNice pic.twitter.com/N8vK2TaHrU
– OGC Nice (@ogcnice) 16. December 2023
This unfortunate setback means the former Lorient striker is likely to be left out of Jose Peceiro’s 27-man squad for the next tournament. Despite Moffi’s absence, Peseiro has reportedly submitted a reserve squad list of 50 players, which will be reduced to 27 players.
In addition to Moffi’s absence, strikers Gift Orban and Turkey-based Paul Onuachu will also reportedly not be part of Nigeria’s AFCON squad.
With Moffi expected to be absent, attention has turned to potential replacement players who can fill a similar role within the team. Victor Boniface has proven to be a useful support striker, highlighting Moffi’s role in the Super Eagles team. Boniface’s remarkable achievements at club level may justify his inclusion on the list.
Nigerian football circles are speculating about the best candidate to replace Moffi in the Super Eagles squad.
Paul Onuachu:
Known for his goal-scoring ability and physical presence, the towering striker is a candidate to watch. However, Victor Osimhen, Sadiq Umar and the recovering Taiwo Awoniyi appear to be suitable for Onuachu’s position in the squad.
Akor Adams:
The young Nigerian player has proven himself as an outstanding striker in Ligue 1, scoring seven goals in 15 appearances for Montpellier, and could be Moffi’s successor. However, questions remain about Adams’ suitability as a support striker in Peseiro’s system.
Gift Orban:
The 21-year-old has the ability to complement a striker, similar to Peseiro’s preferred style, despite a relatively quiet season at KAA Gento. Orbán’s experience with his two-forward formation at Gent could translate well into his Eagles line-up.
