Moses Simon on the brink of Super Eagles centurion milestone

Moses Simon is on the verge of joining Nigeria’s exclusive international century club when the Super Eagles begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo on Friday.

The Paris FC winger has made 99 senior appearances for Nigeria and will earn his 100th cap if selected by head coach Éric Chelle against the Barea at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

The Nigeria Football Federation has already concluded arrangements to honour Simon for the landmark, which would make him the fifth Nigerian player to reach 100 senior international appearances. (NFF⁠)

Simon would follow Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, Ahmed Musa and Alex Iwobi into Nigeria’s century club. Iwobi became the country’s fourth centurion when he made his 100th appearance in Nigeria’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Portugal in Leiria in June.

Simon potential milestone would cap more than a decade of service to the national team since making his Super Eagles debut against Uganda on March 25, 2015.

The winger has since established himself as one of Nigeria’s most dependable attacking players, remaining a regular presence across different generations of the national team and under successive coaches.

Simon has scored 12 goals in his 99 appearances for Nigeria, with the NFF recording 64 competitive matches and 35 friendlies during his international career. The Super Eagles have won 49 of the matches in which he has featured, drawn 30 and lost 20. (NFF⁠)

His international career has also taken him to major tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations finals and the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Simon has featured in 23 AFCON finals matches and 22 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures, highlighting his longevity and importance to the Super Eagles over the past decade. (NFF⁠)

One of the memorable moments of his early international career came during Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign against Swaziland, now Eswatini.

After the first leg ended goalless in Mbabane, the Super Eagles needed a victory in the return fixture in Port Harcourt to progress in the qualifying race.

With the match approaching its final stages, Simon produced the breakthrough by scoring directly from a 22-yard free-kick as Nigeria secured a 2-0 victory.

His journey from that early contribution to the brink of 100 caps has seen him become one of the more experienced players in Chelle’s current squad.

The 31-year-old is part of the 24-man squad selected for Nigeria’s opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. The Super Eagles will host Madagascar in Uyo on Friday before travelling to Bissau for their second Group L fixture on September 29. (NFF⁠)

Simon’s potential landmark comes at an important point for Nigeria, with the Super Eagles looking to begin their qualifying campaign with a victory.

Chelle has emphasised the importance of collecting points early in the campaign, with Nigeria aiming to establish a strong position in Group L from the opening fixtures. (NFF⁠)

The NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, praised Simon’s contribution to Nigerian football and described him as a committed servant of the national team.

“I can testify that Moses Simon is an incredible player and a wonderful human being, having related with him at close quarters for several years. He is a patriot to the core, and forever passionate and dedicated to the Nigeria cause,” Ikpeme said.

“The NFF celebrates him on this special occasion and wish him many more caps with the Super Eagles.”

If Simon features against Madagascar, he will join Iwobi as the latest member of Nigeria’s century club, with the pair having progressed through the national team ranks during the same era.

Simon’s milestone would represent more than a numerical landmark. From his debut in 2015 to 99 appearances and 12 goals, reaching 100 caps would mark a decade of service to the Super Eagles.

With the NFF preparing to celebrate him and Nigeria beginning another AFCON qualification campaign, Simon now stands one appearance away from becoming the fifth Nigerian centurion.

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