Nigerian international and Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi found himself at the centre of a shocking incident following his club's recent defeat in the French Ligue 1. Moffi, alongside his OGC Nice teammates, was physically assaulted by a mob of the club's own supporters.
Chaos Erupts After Sixth Consecutive Loss
The violent episode unfolded on Monday, December 2, 2025, after Nice suffered a disappointing 3-1 away loss to FC Lorient. The match saw Nice take an early lead through an Avom Ebong own goal in the first half. However, Laurent Abergel equalised for Lorient in the 31st minute, shifting the momentum.
Sambou Soumano then put the home side ahead during first-half stoppage time. He completed his brace just eight minutes into the second half, sealing a 3-1 victory for Lorient. This result marked Nice's sixth consecutive defeat across all competitions, leaving the team in 10th place on the league table with 17 points from 14 matches.
Players Attacked Upon Return to Training Ground
The frustration of the supporters boiled over upon the team's return to their base. According to reports, approximately 400 members of the club's Ultras group were waiting for the players as they stepped off the team bus at their training ground.
The situation quickly descended into chaos. The angry fans assaulted the players, with Terem Moffi specifically targeted. It was reported that the Nigerian star had his hair pulled and was kicked during the melee. His teammate, Jeremie Boga, was also among those attacked.
In the aftermath, both Moffi and Boga submitted medical leave requests. Moffi is expected to be away from the squad for a week, while Boga will be sidelined for five days due to the injuries sustained.
Club Condemns Violence, Players Press Charges
The club has responded strongly to the incident. OGC Nice released an official statement condemning the actions of the supporters. The club noted that "the excesses we saw during this gathering are unacceptable" and that they condemn these acts "with the highest toughness."
Taking legal action, Terem Moffi and Jeremie Boga visited the police to formally press charges against their alleged assailants. This step underscores the seriousness of the attack and the players' intent to seek justice.
Moffi Named in Super Eagles AFCON Squad
Despite the traumatic event, there was positive news for the striker on the international front. Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, announced his preliminary 55-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Terem Moffi has been called up to the Nigerian national team for the tournament. The extensive list, which was posted on the Super Eagles' official X page, includes 14 new players, with five hailing from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
This list will be trimmed down to a maximum of 28 players before the final submission deadline to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on December 11. Nigeria is drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. The AFCON 2025 tournament is scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco.
Coach Chelle has also begun shaping his squad by dropping some players from his plans, including Tolu Arokodare and Olakunle Olusegun, as part of his strategy following Nigeria's recent World Cup qualifying play-off defeat to DR Congo.
