Nigeria’s preparations for next month’s CAF World Cup playoffs have taken a hit after forward Terem Moffi was ruled out for several weeks with a calf injury.

The OGC Nice striker sustained the problem during his first training session back from international duty, leaving both club and country sweating over his fitness ahead of a crucial period.

OGC Nice boss Franck Haise confirmed that Moffi picked up a calf injury during Thursday morning’s training session, just days after returning from international duty with the Super Eagles.

According to reports, Terem suffered a calf injury that will rule him out for several weeks in yet another blow in what has been an injury-riddled start to the season.

Moffi’s absence leaves a gap in Nice’s attack, with Kevin Carlos now expected to lead the line in their upcoming Ligue 1 fixtures, starting with Saturday’s clash against Olympique Lyonnais.

The timing could not be worse for 25-year-old Moffi, who was expected to feature prominently in Nigeria’s World Cup playoff campaign next month.

Nigeria’s recent 4–0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo was impressive, but it was not enough to secure automatic qualification.

The Super Eagles finished second in Group C, forcing them into a high-stakes playoff tournament that will determine who advances to the FIFA Inter-confederation Play-offs in March 2026.

The playoffs, scheduled for November 13–16, 2025, will take place in Morocco and feature four teams, with Nigeria set to face Gabon, while Burkina Faso take on Cameroon.

The winner of this mini-tournament will not automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but will earn a spot in the global playoff against teams from other continents for the final ticket to North America.