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FIFA focuses on Moses Simon, the expected Nigeria’s star man at AFCON 2023

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Moses Simon of Nigeria warming up during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON finals last16 match between Nigeria and Tunisia at Roumdeadjia Stadium in Garoua Cameroon on 23 January 2022.

Nantes and Nigeria winger speaks to FIFA about the highs and lows of his career, from his early years playing in Slovakia to captaining his country.

  • Nigeria have opened with two draws in CAF qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
  • Moses Simon, who captained the team against Zimbabwe, speaks to FIFA
  • Nantes player reflects on the highs and lows of his career

In the Simon family, discipline has always been a prized value. Born in 1995 in Jos, Nigeria, to a father who was in the military, Moses Simon was raised in an army barracks and quickly got used to 5am starts. Although expected to follow in his father’s footsteps in the armed forces, he opted to pursue a completely different career – albeit one that also required discipline – in football.

At the tender age of 18, this graduate of the GBS Academy in Lagos flew to the Netherlands in the summer of 2013 to take part in preseason training with the Ajax reserves, although ultimately the Amsterdam club decided not to retain him.

The young Nigerian took the setback it in his stride and soon after signed for Slovakian outfit AS Trencin, arriving in the throes of winter. “At first I was a bit scared,” Simon admitted in an exclusive interview with FIFA.

By dint of hard work and discipline, that fear quickly dissipated, paving the way for an impressive toplevel career. After Trencin, the wide man gained further experience at Gent, where he won the Belgian championship, then at Spanish club Levante, before a 2019 move took him to French Ligue 1 side Nantes, with whom he won the Coupe de France in 2022.

The 28yearold has also enjoyed some great experiences with the Super Eagles. His first international competition was at the FIFA U20 World Cup Turkey 2013™, before he had even turned 18. “I was young, but I had the ability,” Simon recalls. An unused squad member on that occasion, he would return to play an important part at the next edition two years later in New Zealand.

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However, the winger is still waiting for his first experience of a senior FIFA World Cup™.

After featuring in the qualifiers for Russia 2018 and making then coach Gernot Rohr’s provisional squad for the tournament, he had to withdraw due to injury.

Four years later, the Super Eagles lost out on a place in Qatar after being beaten in a playoff by Ghana on away goals. “Missing the World Cup is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” Simon said.

The Nigerian is now hoping to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 26™ despite the Super Eagles beginning their qualifying campaign with consecutive 11 draws with Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

In conversation with FIFA, he looks back on the ups and downs of his club and international career to date.

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FIFA: Your career has not followed a typical path. How did you find moving to Slovakia aged just 19?

Moses Simon: ”It was hard. I was in Holland before going to Slovakia, but it was during the summer. And I left to Slovakia during the winter, in January. So, it was hard with the wind especially.

“I didn’t expect it to be so cold. And I had never seen snow before! At first, I was a little bit scared. I was wondering: if someone kicks me, what would the pain feel like?

“I thought I was going to play just like I had in Holland, but it was totally different. But the important thing is that I had a Nigerian player with me [Kingsley Madu]. We had played together in Nigeria.

“It was good because we could communicate with each other, we helped each other.

“Everywhere I go, I always meet a Nigerian or a Ghanian player. We speak the same tongue. It’s like meeting a brother. You can interact. They are like a family that try to help you.”

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What kind of routine did you have in Slovakia?

“I just stayed in my room, just going out for training then came back, I never went out. Training, home, training, home. But I got used to it.

“I’m the kind of person that doesn’t go out most of the time because this is the way I was brought up. From school, you go home. From training, you go home.

“They taught us that the more time you stayed outside, the more problems you brought home. So after school, we always went straight back home.

“After training, home. There was no difference when I arrived in Slovakia.”

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When you started playing in Holland and then in Slovakia, did you believe you could have the career you’ve had?

“I didn’t think so, but I had the feeling that I was going to ‘make it’ – that is becoming a professional player, which contributes to the life of my parents, my siblings, my friends. It gave me a new life.

“Once you’re a professional player, no matter what it takes, you will have something to take back home. And back home, people struggle to eat.

“So once you make it, you can feed your family members. I wanted to make it so my people could be proud of me. And today, I know they are.”

At international level, you’ve also had success and were part of Nigeria squads at two U20 World Cups. What memories do you have from those tournaments?

“My first one was in 2013 in Turkey. I was 17, I was like a ball boy and I didn’t play one single game. I was really young but I was capable.

“Then there was 2015 in New Zealand. It was the farthestaway country I’ve ever been to, I thought we were going to the end of the world!

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“I even felt sick because it was very long. But the World Cup was fantastic for me, really fantastic. We eventually lost [10 in the Round of 16 against Germany], but I had a really good time.”

Then, with the senior team, you missed out on 2018 through injury and Nigeria didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup. How did that feel?

“In 2018, at first, I felt really sad. I played all the qualification games, I started and I finished [the matches]. But in the end, I didn’t go to the World Cup.

“It’s something I would not wish on my worst enemy. I was really devastated. But not any more. Now, I just think: ‘OK, I thank God for everything because I know that it’s for a reason.’

“It [not going to the 2018 World Cup and or qualifying for Qatar 2022] motivated me to keep working hard. I want to play in the next World Cup, it’s a dream.

“I just need to do my best, push and work hard. If the coach calls me, good. If he doesn’t and calls up someone else, I will be happy to support them.”

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You wore the captain’s armband in Nigeria’s match against Zimbabwe on 19 November. What did that mean to you?

“First of all, I have to thank the coach for that. Then, I want to thank the players for the respect they give me. To be the captain of your nation is a big honour, but it is not easy.

“It’s not the same as being captain in your club. You carry the whole nation, so you have to be a strong leader.

“I’m really happy that I captained Nigeria and, even if I’m told that I won’t be the captain any more, I’m still grateful for the opportunity.

“Football has taken me all the way to captaining the Super Eagles! I had never, ever been the captain of even the Academy where I came from, so it meant so much.”

Looking back at all those experiences you have lived through – from playing in Slovakia to captaining your country – what advice would you give to your 19yearold self?

“I would just say: you can do more. At 19, it is the time you need to prove to the world that you are one of the best players.

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“If you can put this in your head, you will make it for sure. You will go further than where you are now. Just keep working.

“Also, respect the people around you. Respect your coaches. Listen to what they say, this is key.

“Don’t argue with your leader or with anyone that is older than you and that has seen it all before you. Listen and understand, and you will go far.”

CREDIT: FIFA.com

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

AFCON

Ghana risks missing at 2025 Afcon after loss to Sudan

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Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifying Nemesis, Ghana's Partey And Lamptey Miss Out On Cup Of Nations Finals -

Ghana Black Stars lost 2-0 to Sudan Tuesday afternoon in matchday 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series putting their prospects in great doubt.

The former three-time African champions are now third in Group F having accrued just two points from four matches. Sudan, with seven points, are second.

Angola, who still have a match to play later in the day with bottom-placed Niger, are on top with nine points.

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AFCON

Behold, the decision-makers in the botched Libya-Nigeria duel

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Ousmane Kane, the Senegalese Chairman of the Disciplinary Board

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

With CAF referring the case of the botched Libya-Nigeria match to its

Disciplinary Board, a nine-man panel has the task of deciding which party was at fault.

Possible decision could be forfeiture of the match by the offending party or rescheduling of the fixture. The latter seems unlikely considering the already congested international calendar. 

Even if that were to be the decision, the match would likely be taken to a neutral ground.

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On the other hand, the board may also take it that it was Nigeria that refused to play the match after having hosted the first leg.

In that case, Article 62 of the competition’s regulations will be enforced. It reads: “Any team that withdraws or refuses to play the return match after having played the first leg on its territory must refund the association of the visiting team a minimum sum of fifteen thousand (15,000) U.S. dollars in reparation for the damage suffered by the host country.”

If the NFF is adjudged as the culprit, the body will be fined $15,000.  Chapter 19 of the regulations gives a window to appeal the fine. But judging from the CAF statement of the situation,  and the condemnation of the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles, the fine is very unlikely as the weight of evidence tilts against the Libyans who in the x-handle admitted keeping the Super Eagles in captivity with an explanation that episode was largely due to an airport protocol mishap.

A decision lies firstly on the nine-man panel. With the possibility of the losing side not satisfied, another nine-man panel, the Appeals Board will take a possible final decision which can only be contested at the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS)

Here are the decision-makers:

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Disciplinary Board

  • Ousmane Kane, Senegal. – President.
  • Jane Njeri Onyango, Kenya – Vice President.
  • Norman Arendse, South Africa – member
  • Mohamed Mostafa El-Mashta, Egypt. – member
  • Djonfoune Golbassia Felix, Chad. – member
  • Patrick Shale, Lesotho – member
  • Douma Ibrahim Issaka – Niger. -member
  • Ruth Kisaakye, Uganda. -member
  • Drucil Taylor, Sierra Leone. – member

Appeal Board

Justice Roli Daibo Harriman, Nigeria

Faustino Varela Monteiro, Cape Verde

Moez Ben Tahar Nasri, Tunisia

Moses Ikanqa, Namibia

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Hamoud T’feil Bowbe, Mauritania

Mohamed Robleh Djama, Djibouti

Asogbavi Komlan, Togo

Justice Masauko Timothy Msungama, Malawi

Lubamba Ngimbi Hector, DR Congo

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AFCON

Libya Delay Super Eagles’ Possible Early Landing at Morocco 2025

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The Libya-Nigeria Group D tie of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for this Tuesday has been put off owing to the refusal of the Libyan authorities to allow the Nigerian team to enter their territory for the match.

As a result, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has referred the case to its Disciplinary Board to make an appropriate decision. The immediate consequence of this is the delay of the Nigerian team picking an early qualification as has been done by Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Algeria who have all qualified after four matches.

A  win by Nigeria on Tuesday would have taken their point haul to 10 while a draw would take their total to eight.  That way, irrespective of the result of the Rwanda-Benin Republic corresponding match would have qualified the Super Eagles for Morocco 2025 as they would not have ended below second position in Group D.

They now await the decision of the CAF body. A possible outcome could be Libya’s forfeiture of the match.  A case in point is that of USM Alger of Algeria versus Morocco’s RS Berkane in last year’s Confederation Cup semi-final duel when the Moroccans were unjustly delayed at the airport by the Algerians.

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In the case of the Super Eagles, it was worse as theirs was not just delayed, they were locked up in a desolate airport in what was a psychologically draining and energy sapping tactics.

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