Yahoo Sports Has Youssoufa Moukoko already fallen out of favour at OGC Nice?
Youssoufa Moukoko (19) joined OGC Nice on loan from Borussia Dortmund in the summer with a view to getting his career back on track. Having burst onto the scene at an early age, earning his first caps for the German national team, his young career had stalled.
With limited game-time prospects at Borussia Dortmund, he made the move to the Cote d’Azur. He began brightly, netting a brace and registering an assist in the 8-0 hammering of AS Saint-Étienne in late September. However, those are his only goal contributions for Le Gym.
Moukoko overlooked during Nice’s draw to Lille
Given a starting spot against FC Twente in the UEFA Europa League in mid-week, Moukoko did not take his chance and was replaced at half-time. “These are difficult times when you’re a football player,” said Franck Haise, reacting to the German’s performance as Nice drew 2-2 against their Dutch opponents.
He added, “We’re accompanying him. In sports at the highest level, there are no gifts. That’s how it is. You have to just keep working, improving, taking the principles on board and then at some point, he’ll have his chance again.”
That chance did not come at the weekend. Despite going in search of a goal in the final minutes against Lille OSC, Haise opted to bring on inexperienced 17-year-old Victor Orakpo, rather than Moukoko. It was a substitution that was telling. For now, the Borussia Dortmund loanee is demoted, it is now up to him to re-earn his place in this Nice side.
