Moses Simon: Paris FC winger becomes second Super Eagles star to hit 200 Lig 1 games

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon reached an important milestone on Sunday after making his 200th appearance in the French top flight, Ligue 1, Afrik-Foot reports.

The landmark moment came during Paris FC’s goalless draw away to RC Strasbourg Alsace at the Stade de la Meinau.

Simon started the match and played for 64 minutes before he was substituted. Although neither team managed to find the back of the net, the result was still useful for Paris FC as they picked up a valuable point away from home.

The draw keeps the club in 13th place on the league table. More importantly, they remain nine points clear of the relegation zone as the season enters its decisive phase.

The day was, however, about more than just the result for Simon. His appearance means he has now played 200 matches in Ligue 1, becoming only the second Nigerian footballer to reach that mark. The first was former Super Eagles forward John Utaka, who enjoyed a long and successful career in France.

Utaka played for Montpellier HSC, RC Lens, and Stade Rennais FC, and he even won the Ligue 1 title with Montpellier. His record of 239 appearances still stands as the highest by a Nigerian in the league.

Simon now sits second on that list and has firmly written his name into Nigerian football history in France.

Moses Simon’s impressive Ligue 1 record continues to grow

Simon’s achievements in France go beyond just the number of games he has played. The winger is already the Nigerian with the most goal contributions in Ligue 1 history.

Across his 200 matches, Simon has produced 76 goal contributions, made up of 36 goals and 40 assists. This means he has moved ahead of Utaka, who previously held the record with 75 contributions from 59 goals and 16 assists.

The assist record is particularly impressive. Simon’s 40 assists is the highest number recorded by any Nigerian player in Ligue 1, showing how important his creativity and crossing ability have been over the years.

Most of Simon’s success in France came during his long spell with FC Nantes. He spent six seasons with the club and became one of their most trusted attacking players.

During his time at Nantes, Simon made 177 league appearances. In those matches he scored 33 goals and provided 37 assists. His pace, dribbling and ability to create chances often helped the team avoid relegation battles.

In the summer of 2025, Simon made the move to Paris FC in search of a new challenge. Since joining the club, he has played 23 league matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

Paris FC will now turn their attention to their next league match against Le Havre AC next week. Simon will be hoping to end his current goal drought, as he has not scored since November.

Meanwhile, Strasbourg have their own challenge ahead. The French side will face HNK Rijeka in the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League round-of-16 tie on Thursday. Strasbourg hold a narrow advantage after winning the first leg 2–1 away from home.

Reaching 200 Ligue 1 games is another sign of Simon’s consistency and quality. Very few Nigerian players have spent so many years performing at a high level in one of Europe’s top leagues, and the Super Eagles winger continues to strengthen his legacy in French football.