Moses Simon has admitted that the current Super Eagles squad is unlikely to remain together until the 2030 FIFA World Cup, saying a new generation of players will probably lead Nigeria's challenge by then, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria missed out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after finishing behind South Africa in the qualifying campaign and later falling short in the playoffs. The failure extended the country's absence from football's biggest tournament after also missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.
The next World Cup will be held in 2030 and will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. By then, Simon, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Sunday, will be 35 years old.
The Paris FC winger has never played at the FIFA World Cup. He was ruled out of Nigeria's final squad for the 2018 tournament in Russia because of injury, before the Super Eagles failed to qualify for both the 2022 and 2026 editions.
Several of Nigeria's experienced players will also be well into their 30s by 2030. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will be around 33, Alex Iwobi will be 34, while star striker Victor Osimhen will be about 31 when the tournament begins.
Speaking to Urban Dwell Sport, Simon admitted that missing another World Cup has been painful for everyone in the dressing room.
“The players care about the World Cup more than anyone. They want to go to the World Cup. Even if they don’t make the team, they want their friends to go to the World Cup. They have feelings, but you can’t tell them not to eat because of the feeling.”
Simon backs Chelle's rebuilding project and next generation
Although Simon accepted that many of the current Super Eagles stars may not feature at the next World Cup, he is confident that head coach Eric Chelle is laying the foundation for a stronger future.
The winger believes fresh talents are already pushing into the national team and could become the backbone of Nigeria's squad by 2030.
“Sorry to say, about 90 or 95 per cent of the players in the current team, they’re watching. I don’t think they will play the next World Cup because the young players are coming up. Eric Chelle is building a new team, a strong team for the nation, which is really good for everyone.
“So possibly, in 2030, most of us will be supporters, supporting the mission.”
Despite the possibility that he may never fulfil his own dream of appearing at a World Cup, Simon remains hopeful that the next generation will achieve what his own generation could not.
“My father didn’t dream of playing football, but I am playing. If I don’t play at the World Cup, my son will. If my son doesn’t, I have players in the academy who will.”
Simon leaves behind an outstanding Super Eagles career that has stretched for more than a decade since making his senior debut in 2015. He has earned 98 international caps and is only two appearances away from joining Nigeria's exclusive group of players with 100 caps.
He has also become one of Nigeria's most dependable performers at the Africa Cup of Nations, making 23 appearances across several editions. During that period, he helped the Super Eagles win bronze medals in 2019 and 2025, as well as a runners-up finish at the 2023 AFCON.
