Terem Moffi scored a brace and provided an assist for OGC Nice as they thrashed rivals AS Monaco 3-0 in a highly contested Derby de la Côte d’Azur at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco. 

Moffi, who joined the club during the January transfer window had gone the last three games without a goal, however, he saved his scoring boots for when it mattered the most, helping his side to a comfortable win at a venue they last claimed victory in 2014. 

The Super Eagles striker put the visitors in front in the 8th minute after centre-back Dante located him with a long pass with the Nigerian comfortably putting the ball behind the net for his first goal for Nice. The second goal was a carbon copy of the first, Khéphren Thuram sent a long ball over Monaco’s defence leaving the pacy forward to chase before cooly slotting it past the goalkeeper in the 25th minute. 

Moffi turned provider for Khéphren Thuram in the 43rd minute to seal the game for the visitors just before the half time break. 

Reacting to his brace and his overall performance, Moffi says he is delighted to finally get off the mark with his new club, “I am happy to have scored my first goals, I worked for that, I feel good in this team and I will continue to work to score more goals.”

The 24-year-old made way for Billal Brahimi in the 81st minute and was named the Player of the match after the emphatic statement victory. The win sees Nice move up to seventh on the league table as they hope to fight for a UEFA Champions League slot at the end of the campaign. 

With his brace, Moffi has rejoined the long list of players fighting for the top goal scorer’s boot. With 14 league goals this season, is only a goal behind Lille’s Jonathan David, PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Reims Folarin Balogun who are all on 15 goals. Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette are on 14 goals, same as Moffi.

Moffi is the first Nice player to score 2+ goals at Monaco in a Ligue 1 game since Mario Baloteli in January 2018.