Injured Moffi out for 9 months

French Ligue 1 side Nice have confirmed that Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which could sideline him for up to nine months.

Moffi joined Nice from Lorient on a record €30m deal during the 2023 winter transfer window and has become an important member of the squad.

Since joining Nice, the 25-year-old striker has been quite consistent for Nice, registering 20 goals and providing five assists in 52 appearances.

His impressive performance for Nice has seen him linked with a move to Roma and Napoli, with both clubs seriously in search of a striker.

Despite speculations that the striker may have played his last game for the French side last season, the Calabar-born forward returned to Lorient for pre-season.

Unfortunately, the Nigeria international sustained an injury during a training session and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“Injured during training, Terem Moffi (25 years old) underwent additional tests today (Wednesday). These confirmed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,” the club wrote on their website.

“Victim of a setback, the Nigerian (20 goals in 52 matches in the Nice jersey) will be able to count on the unwavering support of the entire red and black family. Staff, teammates, gym employees, and supporters will accompany him during his convalescence and wish him, in unison, a speedy recovery.

“Take care of yourself, Terem; you will come back stronger!”

While Nice did not place a time frame on the period of the player’s absence, findings by our correspondent showed that the Nigerian may spend between six and nine months on the sidelines.

“It usually takes six to nine months to recover from a torn ACL. Competitive athletes may need a little longer than this to heal fully before they’re cleared to return to their sport,” Cleveland Clinic wrote.

Typically, players take up to nine months to recover from ACL injuries. Recall that Sadiq Umar suffered a similar case, and that made him miss the entire season with Real Sociedad.