Super Eagles star misses Gabon game but makes timely comeback for Metz vs OGC Nice

Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi is back in action after recovering from a calf injury that sidelined him for over a month, Soccernet.ng reports.

The OGC Nice forward, who last featured in the club’s 2-2 draw with AS Monaco on October 5, returns just in time for his side’s Ligue 1 clash against Metz on Sunday.

Moffi’s comeback offers a timely boost for Franck Haise’s team, who sit eighth in the table after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week.

The Nigerian’s sharpness in front of goal could prove decisive as Nice aim to reignite their push for European qualification.

Moffi’s road back to full fitness has been steady but frustrating. The 26-year-old limped off against Monaco after only 38 minutes, replaced by Kojo Peprah Oppong.

Although he reported for international duty during Nigeria’s October window, his fitness limited him to a combined two minutes of action across two fixtures: a 2-1 win against Lesotho and a 4-0 triumph over Benin Republic.

That brief cameo was the last time Moffi appeared for either club or country. His absence saw him miss Nice’s victories over Lyon, Rennes, and Lille, as well as the recent loss at the Parc des Princes.

Earlier today, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle named his 24-man squad for next week’s World Cup playoff against Gabon, with Moffi omitted as a precaution. His place went to Chidera Ejuke, the Sevilla winger returning to the national setup after a year’s absence.

Despite missing the Gabon game, Moffi will remain optimistic. If he regains form and fitness, he is expected to reclaim his place in Nigeria’s squad ahead of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations. The striker was a member of the Super Eagles team that reached the AFCON final last year, and his finishing instinct remains a valuable asset for the national side.

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Moffi: Super Eagles star on the wings as Nice aim to rebound at Metz

Metz, meanwhile, welcome Nice to the Stade Saint-Symphorien in resurgent mood. After a torrid start to October, where they conceded 13 goals in three defeats, Stephane Le Mignan’s men have rediscovered their rhythm. Consecutive clean-sheet victories have lifted them to 17th, just a point below the relegation line.

A win on Sunday would mark Metz’s first three-match winning streak in Ligue 1 since 2021, and their first consecutive home wins in over two years.

However, history favours Nice. The visitors have won their last three meetings with Metz without conceding, including a 1-0 away win in 2023. They also boast a strong record when scoring first, unbeaten in league fixtures after netting multiple goals since early 2024.

Haise’s side will be determined to bounce back from their late heartbreak in Paris, where Kylian Mbappé’s 95th-minute strike denied them a valuable point. Nice have lost two of their last three away games, but Moffi’s return could inject fresh attacking spark into their campaign.

Before his injury, Moffi had scored two goals in seven league matches, and his movement and physicality will be key to unlocking Metz’s improving defence.

Nice, currently three points behind fourth-placed Lille, know that victory on Sunday would strengthen their European credentials and for Moffi, it’s the perfect stage to remind both club and country of his worth.