Nigeria winger Moses Simon has teased his club teammate Jean-Charles Castelletto with elimination ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) round of 16 clash against Cameroon.
While Simon will line up for the Super Eagles on Saturday, January 27, Castelletto will be on the opposite side for Cameroon.
Both players know each other so well, having played alongside each other at the Ligue 1 side for the better part of the last three years.
However, friendship will be set aside when their countries slug it out at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium for a place in the quarter-finals and Simon believes Castelletto and Cameroon will be the ones packing their bags after the game.
“I spoke with Jean-Charles about the match. One of us will return to Nantes. But tomorrow, it’ll be him returning,” the Nigerian forward said, as quoted by GFNF.
Nigeria's Simon knows Castelletto’s weaknesses
Simon also spoke about Nigeria’s approach to the upcoming last 16 encounter and said the Super Eagles will not change their style.
Jose Peseiro’s side was a bit conservative during the group phase, where they defeated hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau and drew against Equatorial Guinea. However, Nigeria only managed three goals from these three matches – a meagre return, considering the array of attacking talent at their disposal.
Addressing journalists at a pre-match press conference, Simon said it’s good that he has a club teammate who plays for Cameroon and hinted that he knows Castelletto’s weaknesses.
“Actually, we will approach the game the same way used to approach other games. And Cameroon, we all know that they are good and strong likewise use,” the Nantes winger said.
“Of course, I have a teammate there, I know him. I know his weak point. So, we just take the game the way it is, but our goal is to win.”
On Saturday, Nigeria will be hoping to have a repeat of the 2019 AFCON round of 16 clash, where they defeated Cameroon 3-2.
