Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi and his OGC Nice teammate Jérémie Boga have filed formal legal complaints against unknown assailants after being physically assaulted by a group of the club's own supporters, marking a shocking escalation in fan frustration amid Nice's dismal Ligue 1 campaign.
The incident unfolded on Sunday evening, November 30, outside the team's training ground in Cagnes-sur-Mer, shortly after a 3-1 defeat at FC Lorient extended Nice's winless streak to seven matches across all competitions, leaving them languishing in 10th place.
Around 400 disgruntled fans had gathered to protest the team's poor form, with the players warned in advance of a potentially hostile reception upon returning from the airport. Initially, two fan representatives were permitted aboard the team bus to voice their concerns directly, but the situation rapidly deteriorated as the group exited the vehicle. Moffi, who had played the full 90 minutes in the loss, and Boga, a second-half substitute, bore the brunt of the violence, enduring punches, kicks, spitting, and targeted blows to sensitive areas, alongside racist abuse. Sporting director Florian Maurice was also among those targeted, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack despite security presence.
Reports suggest the aggression toward Boga stemmed from an earlier controversy: his invitation of rival Olympique de Marseille supporters to a recent home match, where they were accused of taunting Nice fans. Boga, a former Chelsea academy product who joined Nice from Atalanta in 2023 for €17.5 million, later clarified in a statement that he had no intention of disrespecting the club's loyal supporters. Moffi, the 26-year-old Nigerian international who arrived from Lorient for €22.5 million the same year, was reportedly singled out after being spotted laughing with ex-Lorient forward Loïc Rémy post-match, further fueling perceptions of insensitivity amid the loss.
In the aftermath, both players have been placed on sick leave—Moffi sidelined until next Sunday and Boga granted five days' rest—while they pursue charges for assault and related offenses, a rare step in French football that underscores the severity of the episode. Moffi, who has contributed 24 goals in 72 appearances for Nice, even required assistance from goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf to access the training facility the following day. The players have reportedly expressed a desire to depart the club immediately, with contracts running until 2027, though no official transfer requests have been confirmed.
OGC Nice, owned by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group since 2019, issued a firm condemnation on Monday, stating: "The excesses observed during this gathering are unacceptable. Several club members were targeted. OGC Nice offers them its full support and condemns these acts with the utmost firmness." The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) echoed this sentiment, labeling the assaults "totally unacceptable" and pledging to act as a civil party in the legal proceedings, while reaffirming its commitment to player safety.
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