‘Sniper’ – Super Eagles star Terem Moffi sends touching message to new Aston Villa signing

OGC Nice forward Terem Moffi played a crucial role for the Super Eagles of Nigeria during their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast…

Nigeria’s Terem Moffi has sent an emotional message to former OGC Nice strike partner Evann Guessand following the Ivorian’s big-money move to Aston Villa, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Guessand, 24, sealed a £30.5m switch to the Premier League side on 8 August, signing a contract that runs until 2030.

The deal came after a standout 2024-25 season in which the forward scored 12 goals and registered eight assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances, earning him Nice’s Player of the Season award.

The Ivory Coast international, who progressed through Nice’s academy, had loan spells at Lausanne-Sport and Nantes before finally breaking into the first team last term. 

Guessand's emergence coincided with Moffi’s long spell on the sidelines after the Nigerian suffered an ACL injury a year after making his permanent move to Nice from Lorient in summer 2023.

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In Moffi’s absence, Guessand became the club’s primary attacking threat, helping them secure a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 and qualification for the Champions League playoffs. His form caught the eye of Aston Villa, who were quick to secure his signature.

What Terem Moffi said

Moffi, now fully fit, took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a heartfelt message to his former teammate:

“Sniper, do it in silence. Bonne chance.”

‘Bonne chance' translates to ‘good luck' in English.

The Super Eagles striker, who has been impressive in Nice’s preseason friendlies, returned to competitive action this week.

Moffi played 89 minutes in Nice’s 2-0 Champions League playoff first-leg defeat to Benfica. Despite having three shots on goal, he was unable to find the net.

Terem Moffi will be hoping for a sharper performance when the French side travel to Portugal for the return leg, with both Ligue 1 and European ambitions still in sight.

Guessand, meanwhile, is expected to add depth and versatility to Aston Villa’s forward line, with the club describing him as a player “capable of operating across the front three” and praising his “intelligence, movement and finishing.”

Both forwards now find themselves chasing different dreams, Moffi with Nice in Ligue 1, Guessand in the Premier League with Villa.