Super Eagles striker, Terem Moffi commenced the 2023/2024 French Lique 1 season on a mixed-feeling note as his 19-minute assist was all his team needed to secure a one-all draw against visiting Lille OSC.
Touted by the enthusiastic Allianz Riviera crowd – who had waited for over 70 days to see the commencement of a new season – the Francesco Farioli’s boys started the game on a bright note brewing with confidence.
Nineteen minutes into the game, it was the home team that took the lead. France forward, Gaetan Laborde was the beneficiary when he connected well with Moffi’s pass, drove into the box and lifted the ball above Lucas Chevalier who was off his line.
Khephren Thuram could have made it two in one minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Terem Moffi thought he had won a penalty for the ‘Les Aiglons’ in the 45th minute, he went down under a challenge, but the referee waved play on, weaving away any protest from the players.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Moffi was provided an opportunity to get on the scorer’s sheet, but he failed to turn in a rebound as goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier pulled a fantastic save.
The Calabar born was hacked down on the run of play and was attended to by the medics after the centre referee beckoned.
The former Lorient point man was game was however cut short in the 81st minute when he was replaced by Algerian forward Hicham Boudaoui due to an injury he sustained.
Just when fans of the Le Gym were jubilating their imminent victory, Lille’s wasted chances came to hurt them. Bafode Diakite flicked a crossed freekick lightly with his head under Marcin Bulka’s arm to make it one all and sent the over 37,000-seated stadium into a state of quietness.