Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle is happy with how Moses Simon played, calling the Paris FC player a strong left winger.

Simon was placed lower than Ademola Lookman in the list of top wingers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and Simon only played in two matches during the tournament in Morocco.

The 30-year-old was included in the starting lineup for the group-stage match against Uganda and the third-place playoff against Egypt, with Chelle deciding to let several important players rest.

In an interview with RMC Sport’s After Foot last Friday, Chelle talked about Simon’s skills and how important he is tactically.

He said, “Moses Simon is a powerful left winger, and that’s the main thing he contributes to the team. He does well in one-on-one and two-on-two situations. In Nigeria, we usually play with a diamond.

“When we play deeper, we use a flat 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 formation, and he usually helps us keep stability on the wing and add width to our play.

“When you play through the wings, the opposing team’s defense moves toward the center, and then you can spread the play back out to the sides using Simon, Chukwueze, or Ejuke.”

After six years at Nantes, Simon joined the capital club Paris FC last summer and signed a three-year contract.

The winger had a great beginning in the capital, making four goal contributions in his first seven games in Ligue 1.

Chelle thought about Simon’s time at the club and said that the winger started the season very well at Paris FC.

“I watched some Paris FC games at the start of the season. He began well when he got there. When he played in Nantes, the play usually focused on him. The plan was to move the ball to the sides and get Moses Simon into one-on-one situations.

“At a new club, the approach is different, and he needs to move more towards the center before getting the ball. It is a bit complicated. I am happy with what he is doing for the national team,” he said.

Moses Simon was used majorly as a substitute by Eric Chelle at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Super Eagles playmaker, Alex Iwobi, has admitted they are waiting to see if the team would still play at the 2026 World Cup.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is optimistic of a potential lifeline from FIFA, after it submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Iwobi was asked by SuperSport if he would rather lift the AFCON 2025 trophy or qualify for the World Cup?

The 29-year-old, who played at the 2018 of the World Cup, replied: “I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.

“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have like in your career, a memorable moment.

“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

President Bola Tinubu sends his condolences

to Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze on the passing of his mother.

The President also extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, who passed away on Thursday.

President Tinubu mourns with the Chukwueze family and encourages them to find solace in the memory and legacy of their late matriarch.

“The passing of Mrs Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening.

I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time,” the President says.

President Tinubu prays that God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)