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By Anthony Nlebem.
The race for the top scorer award in the 2022/23 French Ligue 1 season is getting exciting and intriguing following the news of France star Kylian Mbappé’s injury, which could keep him out of football for at least three weeks.
The French superstar was subbed off in the 21st minute of PSG’s 3-1 win over Montpellier after clutching his knee and thigh following a challenge.
However, Mbappé was able to walk off the field as manager Christophe Galtier said he wasn’t too concerned.
The injury came as a big setback for the France World Cup winner, as he was overtaken in the top scorers charts in Ligue 1 by Reims striker of Nigeria descent Folarin Balogun.
Currently, Balogun tops the charts in Ligue 1 with 14 goals, followed by Mbappe and Alexandre Lacazette with 13 goals each. Another Nigerian Terem Moffi, who made a sensational transfer switch from Lorient to Nice in January, has 12 goals to his name.
Moffi and Balogun have been on fire this season and could seize the opportunity of Mbappe’s three weeks layoff to shoot their goals tally to a considerable number before the French star returns
The 24-year-old missed PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Toulouse on Saturday and will also not play against Monaco on Saturday as well as against Lille February 19, but could return against Marseille February 26
Balogun continued his sizzling goals scoring form since joining Reims on loan from Arsenal and netted a hat-trick against Lorient to inspire their 4-2 comeback on match-day 21.
“He is incredible”, said Reims manager Will Still after the match.
He is not the only one stunned by Balogun’s sensational form.
“He (Balogun) has a real thirst for goals,” former Arsenal Under-23 coach Kevin Betsy told Eurosport. “It was very difficult to get him to leave training when he was working on his finishing.
“His willingness to learn, to listen to advice, to ask questions to improve were remarkable.”
With 14 goals in 21 appearances and 17 games to go and currently topping the scorers chart, the Arsenal loanee is definitely among favourites to clinch the top goals scorer award in Ligue 1.
Also, Super Eagles striker Moffi, with his exceptional form in the league, is also considered a contender for the Golden Boot award.
After having several bids rejected, Ligue 1 club OGC Nice, in their seventh attempt, finally met Lorient’s valuation of €30m for the Nigeria international.
He, however, failed to score on his debut for Nice, but had an impressive outing and is backed to return to goals scoring form soon.
Moffi is the joint-third top scorer in Ligue 1 this season, with the 23-year-old scoring 12 goals in 19 matches, one shy of Mbappe and two goals behind Balogun.
Nice have expressed confidence in the quality of the striker to continue with his goal-scoring form with the club.
“We’re delighted that Terem’s determination to sign for OGC Nice, combined with our own, has led to this outcome. The support of our owner was also invaluable,” Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère said.
“It’s an investment that matches our ambitions.”
Nice Sports Director, Florent Ghisolfi, was full of praise for the quality of their new striker.
“When it comes to the ideas that we want to implement and the identity that we want to establish, he’s the ideal striker,” Ghisolfi said.
No doubt, Moffi and balogun are the ideal men banging the goals for Nice and Reims respectively, but dethroning Mbappe, who’s Ligue 1’s top scorer in the last four seasons will surely be a herculean task for the Nigerian duo.
But like they say, if you dream it, you can have it, surely.