Super Eagles of Nigeria star, Terem Moffi has been placed on sick leave after he was assaulted by angry Nice supporters who attacked the squad on their return from a 3-1 defeat to Lorient at the weekend.

Reports from ESPN say the incident unfolded late on Sunday night after the team arrived at the club’s training complex. Around 400 Ultras were said to have gathered there, confronting the players as they stepped off the team bus.

Terem Moffi was among those targeted. The Super Eagles striker had his hair pulled and was kicked during the confrontation, leaving him unavailable for a week. His teammate Jérémie Boga has also been signed off for five days as a result of injuries sustained in the attack.

Both players visited the local police station on Monday to file formal complaints against their attackers.

In a strongly worded statement, Nice said “the excesses we saw during this gathering are unacceptable” and insisted they “condemn these acts with the highest toughness.”

The loss in Brittany marked Nice’s sixth straight defeat in all competitions, deepening tensions around the club as results continue to slide.

Meanwhile, Sean Dyche has confirmed that Nottingham Forest will be without Nigerian duo Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi for Wednesday’s Premier League match against Tolu Arokodare’s Wolves at Molineux.

Aina has not featured since limping off in the opening minutes of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa in September. The hamstring problem has sidelined him for sixteen matches across all competitions, and he is only expected back in the new year.

His absence is further complicated by registration rules. Because Forest did not list him for the Premier League or the Europa League following his injury lay-off, the fullback cannot play again until the transfer window reopens in January.

Awoniyi is also unavailable as he continues to manage a muscular issue, which means he will sit out a third consecutive league outing. His absence adds to Dyche’s fitness concerns ahead of a challenging trip to the Midlands.

Giving an update on his squad, Dyche said: “It’s better news. Not everyone’s quite fit yet but a few are back on the grass training which is a good start. The ones left not with us yet are Taiwo, Wood and Douglas, although getting closer.”

He added that Aina’s recovery is progressing, but any return will have to wait until the new year. “Ola Aina is getting close to fitness, but obviously can’t be with us until January,” he said.

His three-month lay-off leaves Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle with a difficult call to make regarding Aina’s possible involvement in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

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