Moses Simon Confident in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup Qualification Despite Challenging Start

Winger Moses Simon, who debuted for Nigeria’s senior team in March 2015, dismisses concerns about the Super Eagles’ potential failure to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, even as the team is close to securing a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and has had a difficult start to their World Cup campaign. The Nigerian national team currently sits in fifth position within their six-team group, having accumulated only three points from their initial four matches. Simon, sidelined by injury for the June games, which included a draw against South Africa and a defeat to Benin, stated he is “not worried” regarding Nigeria’s prospects when the qualification campaign recommences next year. This stance comes despite the fact that only the top team in each group is assured a place at the North American finals. “We have the quality, we have what it takes to win,” the 29-year-old player informed BBC Sport Africa. He added, “We don’t believe that we are not going to the World Cup.” Simon further explained, “The last qualifying games, we missed regular players and I believe they’ll be there next year to help the team.” The significance of these qualifiers is particularly pronounced for the Jos-born Nantes forward. After missing the 2018 World Cup due to injury, he participated in both legs of the play-off against Ghana for the 2022 tournament, a contest the Black Stars ultimately secured on away goals. “I was part of those fights but I didn’t make it, so I want to play the next one,” he stated. He continued, “I believe this is my last [chance] so I have to do my best to take it.” Simon initially joined the French club Nantes on loan in 2019. Having reached his 150th appearance in France’s Ligue 1 in September, he has demonstrated strong performance this season, seemingly unaffected by the broken leg injury that sidelined him for several months earlier in the year. The winger has delivered some of his finest performances at Nantes under the guidance of coach Antoine Kombouare, who recently commenced his second tenure at the helm. “He’s like a father,” Simon elaborated. “He tries to make everyone feel at home. The most important thing for a coach is when you give a player confidence to play.” Following stints in Slovakia, Belgium, and Spain, Simon is now in his sixth season at Stade de la Beaujoire and expressed relief at his recovery from what he termed “the worst injury” of his career. “It is not easy when you are out with such an injury and come back,” he further commented. “I try to push harder to be better than last season.” He concluded, “I love it here and feel love from the supporters, the president, the club, my team-mates. I feel at home.” Nigeria has seen three coaches this year: Jose Peseiro, Finidi George, and the current interim coach Augustine Eguavoen. Simon’s consistent working relationship with Kombouare at Nantes stands in stark contrast to his experiences with the Nigerian national team. Since his national team debut in 2015, Simon has observed a frequent turnover of coaches, with only Gernot Rohr and Jose Peseiro enjoying any significant tenure. Peseiro’s exit earlier this year created a vacancy that remains unfilled on a permanent basis. When questioned about whether he desired Peseiro, who guided the team to the 2023 Afcon final, to have continued as coach, Simon responded: “For me, I would say of course yes.” He added, “But I’m not the one that decides. It is the federation. My choice is just to play.” Under interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, Nigeria needs just one more victory to qualify for next year’s Nations Cup, yet Simon advocates for the appointment of a permanent coach. “You will have the team with a clear goal,” he explained. “The coach knows the ability [and] the character of the players. He knows how he can attack the game.” He further noted, “But when today is this and tomorrow is different, it’s a little bit more complicated. We all want someone that can be there longer.” Simon was a member of the Super Eagles squad that secured a runner-up finish at the 2023 Afcon earlier this year. Despite the frequent changes in coaching staff, Simon has been a consistent presence with the senior national team for nearly ten years. With more than 70 international appearances, he now ranks among Nigeria’s all-time top 10 players for caps, joining figures such as Super Eagles legend Jay-Jay Okocha. However, Simon declines to draw comparisons between himself and a player he described as one who “gave love to the people”. “You can play 200 caps or 300 but trust me, Jay-Jay Okocha is Jay-Jay Okocha,” Simon remarked with a smile. He added, “What he has given Nigerian and African football, it will be difficult for someone else to do.” Simon was merely 19 years old when he received his initial call-up to the national team, and he recalls that first opportunity to represent his nation with a sense of pride. “Most of the team were guys that I was looking up to, watching them on TV,” he further stated. “It was crazy. I felt like crying and still feel really blessed to be part of that.” He concluded, “It’s not my goal to be among the top 10 or to play 100 games. I just want to make my family proud.” Simon has netted two league goals for Nantes this season. Although the qualification process for the 2025 Afcon has proceeded without major issues thus far, Simon and his fellow players experienced being stranded overnight at an airport last month, prior to a qualifier in Libya. The Super Eagles later boycotted the match in protest of their treatment, leading the Confederation of African Football to award them a 3-0 victory, a ruling that Libya is currently appealing. Simon expressed reluctance to revisit that experience, preferring instead to focus on the forthcoming matches against Benin and Rwanda. “There’s a fighting spirit in the group and everybody wants to play,” he stated. He emphasized, “The most important thing is to qualify for the Afcon.” Simon also voiced his aspiration to motivate his club to surpass their 14th-place league finish from the previous season. Nantes’ most recent Ligue 1 title victory was in 2001, and its esteemed roster of past players includes names like Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly, and Claude Makelele. “This is a historic club – you can feel it from the atmosphere,” an optimistic Simon commented. “I would love to be in the top five again. This is what the supporters and the president wants, and the players too.”