It is a significant weekend for one of Nigeria’s most exciting attackers in Europe, who could lift his first major title since moving to France
Super Eagles midfielder Moses Simon could lay his hands on his first significant piece of silverware in France today, Saturday, May 7, as Nantes take on OGC Nice in the final of the French Cup.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Nantes over the past year.
The Yellow Canaries were slipping towards relegation about this time last year, eventually finishing 18th on the 20-team league table. But Simon played a crucial role as the FCN escaped the drop by the slimmest of margins via the playoffs.
Fast forward 12 months and Les Canaris are flying high in the French Ligue 1 and are about to land their fourth Coupe de France in their 79-year history. Their last triumph, however, came way back in the year 2000.
Simon, though, with four winner’s medals across two European countries, is not new to winning trophies.
The Nigeria international came to the limelight after leading Slovakia’s AS Trencin to the league and cup double in 2015.
And a few months after joining KA Gent, Simon’s excellent displays powered the Belgian side to win the Jupiler Pro League in the same year.
The Super Eagles winger also lifted the Super Cup before departing Belgium for Spain’s Levante, from where he moved to Nantes in 2019.
Presently in the form of his life, after contributing four goals (three goals, one assist) in his last two league matches for Nantes, Simon has been included in the squad to battle Nice as the Canaries look to end their 22-year wait for a Cup triumph.
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Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare welcomes three of his best players Brazil’s Fabio, Andrei Girotto, and playmaker Ludovic Blas back to the team for the final following their recent domestic suspensions, and the latter two should return to the first XI with open arms.
But all eyes would be on attackers Simon and Randal Kolo Muani to inspire Nantes to a memorable win over Christophe Galtier’s well-oiled Nice.
