Speaking in February 2016, Rowett said about Maghoma that "he's strong, he's quick, and he's got great balance. He can beat players, he can score goals, he can tackle, and he can defend", but that his ability meant that "he should be scoring ten goals a season and setting more goals up". He scored at Leeds United in Birmingham's first win of the 2016–17 season, and crossed for David Davis's goal against Norwich City and Lukas Jutkiewicz's late winner against Sheffield Wednesday. He was a regular starter for the first three months of the season, but played little during the next two because of a knee problem and a sickness virus. Under new manager Gianfranco Zola, Maghoma made three starts, in the second of which his decisively taken goal sparked a comeback from 2–0 down to draw with Barnsley, before spending January at the Africa Cup of Nations. He returned with a knee injury, but played rarely even when fit; Zola preferred not to use wingers. Harry Redknapp replaced Zola with at least six points needed from three matches to avoid relegation; Maghoma started all three. He worked hard in a losing cause against Aston Villa, won the corner that led to the first goal and won the penalty with which Birmingham beat Huddersfield Town 2–0, and no Birmingham player made more successful tackles in the win at Bristol City that kept them in the division.