Terem Moffi: 'Pressure doesn't matter' | OneFootball

A discreet arrival, a slow start and then 14 goals that saved FC Lorient: Terem Moffi, 22-year-old Nigerian globetrotter, dreams of the Champions League, AFCON and the World Cup, but knows that the only way there is through further success in Brittany.

Born in Calabar, Nigeria, you left home to train in Lagos at 11 and then moved to England for sport studies at 17. Your first pro contract was in Lithuania, then you had a quick stint in Belgium and now you play in Ligue 1 Uber Eats. What was the most difficult thing?

"Lithuania was very complicated. At 18, being in a city where nobody speaks English, where it's so cold, where the food is different, even though I like to taste new things... The first months were very hard. But I managed to adapt." Lorient was the first club to invest millions of euros on you. Did this put pressure on you when you arrived?

"This is football, there is no pressure to feel when you play football. You just have to enjoy yourself and do your best. Pressure doesn't matter. It's true that my first months in Lorient were not my best. We had to get to know each other. Obviously, I can't score alone. I need my teammates and they helped me a lot." Almost relegated at the half-way point of the season, Lorient got up in the second half to keep the team in the top flight. Do you hope to be less stressed this season?

"It's going to be hard, once again. Nothing is easy but we have to work hard and play every game as well as possible. Personally, I don't put pressure on myself. You have to be the best you can be. But don't set a number of goals to score. You just have to be happy to play game after game and the rest will follow."

FC LORIENT - PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (3-2)/ Highlights - 2020/2021

'My goal? To have a good season at Lorient' Not easy to be far from home at 22 years old. What is your life like in Lorient?

"It's quite strange but I'm used to it now. I have good friends at the club (Yoane Wissa, Armand Laurienté, Adrian Grbic, Quentin Boisgard) and I spend most of my time with them. When I am not with them, I stay at home, watching videos or playing video games. My parents help me a lot. They are far away but I always try to stay in touch. I have two older brothers who used to be soccer players but then went to school instead. I would have liked us all to play soccer together, as a family, like the Hazard brothers." Your goals are attracting interest from bigger clubs. Do you plan to leave soon?

"For the moment, I have not heard of any offers. I am at Lorient for the next season. In the future, I would like to play in the Champions League but for now, my goal is to have a good season at Lorient." Your success at Lorient also attracted the attention of Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, who selected you for two friendly matches in June...

"I was very, very moved to play for my national team for the first time. I was really proud. I thank the coach and also Lorient for the visibility. The African Cup of Nations and the World Cup are coming soon, and I would really like to be part of those tournaments."

>> PLAYER PROFILE: Terem Moffi