Moussa Maazou’s Tunisian Legacy Clouds Move to Portugal
Nigerien striker Moussa Maazou remains a topic of interest in Tunisia as he nears a move to Portuguese side Maritimo. Maazou, who left Etoile Sportif du Sahel (ESS) in 2013, continues to cast a shadow over the Sousse club due to unsettled transfer matters.
ESS recently settled the outstanding balance on Maazou’s transfer following a formal notice from FIFA. Adel Gith, general secretary of Etoile du Sahel, confirmed on local radio that the club has paid €350,000 to Russian club CSKA Moscow, completing the transfer fee for the player.
Maazou, who played for CSKA Moscow between 2009 and 2012, had signed a three-year deal with ESS in July 2012. However, after a mixed season, he is set to leave Tunisia for Portugal, joining Maritimo in ongoing negotiations.
The departure has not gone smoothly. Etoile du Sahel is preparing to file a complaint against both Maazou and Portuguese club Vitória Guimarães, accusing them of unlawfully terminating the striker’s contract after what the club describes as his “escape.”
Maazou’s turbulent time in Tunisia underlines the difficulties African players sometimes face in navigating their careers abroad, amid contractual disputes and transfer complications.
