Nigeria have been one of the most impressive teams at the African championships in Cameroon, inspired in no small part by their France-based forward
Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré has hailed the impact of Nigeria’s talismanic attacker Moses Simon at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Before Simon left France to team up with the Super Eagles ahead of Afcon 2021, he was arguably Nantes’ best player of the 2021-22 season.
The 26-year-old recorded two goals and six assists in 18 appearances for the Yellow Canaries. And his excellent performances earned him two Nantes’ player of the month awards.
Simon’s brilliant form has continued in Cameroon, where he has notched one goal and one assist in three matches for the Super Eagles.
Aside from those contributions, Simon has been a terror for defenders with his dribbling and pace on the left flank.
Simon completed more dribbles (15) than any other player in the group stages to highlight his enormous ability.
And the versatile winger would have scored arguably the best goal of AFCON 2021 if his powerful shot had not cannoned off the crossbar in Nigeria’s last match against Guinea-Bissau. Watford’s William Troost-Ekong duly finished off that incredible move.
Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Kombouaré has confessed that he has been monitoring actions as they unroll at Africa’s biggest football event. And the Canaries’ boss has been particularly impressed with Simon’s display.
“I am very interested in the CAN and I watch almost all the matches,” Kombouaré told Nantes’ official website.
“Of course, I am very happy for the boys selected. There were great performances from all our players.
“Of course, especially Moses Simon, with Nigeria, he’s doing something good. Now it’s time for the cutthroat matches. It’s good to see them advancing in the competition and the further they go, the better it will be for us.”
More of the same will be expected of Simon when Nigeria trade tackles with Tunisia in a Round of 16 tie of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations on January 23, 2021.
