“A delight watching him play” – UEFA, CAF, Wigan, others celebrate Super Eagles’ Afcon hero

The former Nigeria international was the catalyst for the country’s third continental triumph in South Africa nearly a decade ago

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, and their European counterpart, UEFA, has joined countless other football lovers in celebrating Victor Moses on the occasion of his 32nd birthday.

Moses turned 32 on Monday, December 12.

And the Spartak Moscow star received well-wishes from several sections of the global football family.

Celebrating the former Chelsea wingback, CAF wrote on Twitter: “2013 #TotalEnergiesAFCON champion. Happy birthday to the Nigerian flying winger, Victor Moses. Have a great day.”

UEFA also took to their Europa League page on Twitter to appreciate Moses, who lifted the trophy with Chelsea in 2013. “Happy birthday, 2013 winner Victor Moses!” the body wrote.

Wigan, one of the clubs that played a crucial role in Moses’ development, also sent the Nigerian this message: “Wishing Happy Birthday to former Tic, Victor Moses! Victor netted eight goals in 74 league appearances for the Club, including this belting strike at West Bromwich Albion.”

Moses’ present employers, Spartak Moscow are among the many who hailed the former Liverpool loanee on his special day.

A Nigerian Twitter user, Paul Eduo, wrote to Moses: “Happy birthday sir, your contribution to the growth of Nigerian football is much appreciated. Much love sir.”

The Victor Moses legacy

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1990, Moses moved to England at a tender age and was enrolled in the Crystal Palace academy in 2002.

The talented youngster signed his first professional contract for Palace in 2007, going on to make 58 league appearances for the Eagles, scoring 11 goals.

Moses joined Wigan Athletic in 2010 and spent two years with the Latics before Chelsea snapped him up.

While with the Blues, Moses took up numerous loan spells with Liverpool, Stoke City, West Ham United, Fenerbahce, Inter Milan, and Spartak Moscow before permanently teaming up with the Russians in 2021.

With Chelsea, Moses won the Premier League title, the FA Cup, and two Europa League winners medals in 2013 and 2019. Earlier this year, he lifted the Russian Cup with Spartak.

On the international level, Moses played for England at all their youth levels from the under-16 to the under-21 but he switched his allegiance to Nigeria in 2011.

The flying winger’s first major tournament for Nigeria was the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. Moses was one of Nigeria’s most consistent performers, scoring two goals as the Super Eagles went on to win the Afcon title, the country’s third continental triumph.

Moses was also a member of the Super Eagles squad to the 2014 and 2018 World Cup but he announced his international retirement immediately after the latter.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 edition of the Mundial.