Cameroonian forward Youssoufa Moukoko has been named the French Ligue 1 flop for the 2024/25 football season.
The unwanted title has been given to Moukoko by Get French Football News after he failed to rejuvenate his career on loan at OGC Nice from Borussia Dortmund.
The German international received votes from all but two of the journalists at GFFN and received over 50% of the public votes, over 30% more votes than second-placed candidate, Luiz Felipe (Olympique de Marseille).
Here is why he was handed the award:
The days when Youssoufa Moukoko was the prodigy of German football now seem a long time ago. Having broken through at 16 at Borussia Dortmund, he had fallen out of favour at his formative club. The move on loan to OGC Nice was designed to re-ignite his fledgling career, however, the move has not worked out for any party.
Moukoko netted just two goals for Nice, both of which came in the 8-0 hammering of Saint-Étienne back in September. He was often used off the bench in Ligue 1 in the first part of the season but was given more opportunity to prove his credentials in the Europa League. He did not take them, failing to net in eight games in that competition as Le Gym finished second from bottom in the League Phase and without a single win. Nice’s elimination from that tournament coincided with the German dropping out of the picture entirely. His last game in any competition came in the Coupe de France against Stade Briochin in early February; his last start in Ligue 1 came all the way back in October.
Throughout, Franck Haise has sought to praise Moukoko’s mentality and efforts in training but the loan move simply hasn’t worked and, as confirmed by Haise, it is certain that Nice will not exercise the option to make the move permanent. Reports suggest that Borussia Dortmund don’t wish to retain Moukoko, whose career, at the age of just 20, is at a crossroads.
