Simon: Super Eagles forward grabs assists in Nantes heavy Ligue 1 defeat

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Super Eagles winger Moses Simon endured a tough weekend as Nantes suffered a crushing 7-1 defeat to Monaco in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Matches at the Stade Louis II have been unforgiving for Antoine Kombouaré’s side, and their struggles continued with another heavy loss.

Simon: Super Eagles forward grabs assists in Nantes heavy defeat in Ligue 1
Photo by IMAGO

Nantes made a bright start, with Super Eagles star Moses Simon setting up Mathis Abline to open the scoring just five minutes into the game.

However, their early advantage quickly faded.

Nicolas Cozza received a straight red card just three minutes later, and from that moment, Nantes collapsed.

A Mika Biereth hat-trick, along with goals from Takumi Minamino and Eliesse Ben Seghir, put Monaco in complete control.

Nigerian prospect George Ilenikhena scored twice after that to seal Nantes' worst defeat of the season with a late goal.

Super Eagles forward Simon assist cannot save Nantes

The Nigerian has been impressive since his return from injury, a positive sign for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle with the World Cup qualifiers approaching.

He was one of Nantes' best players on the pitch, providing an assist before being substituted for Meschack Elia in the 67th minute.

Super Eagles forward Simon assist cannot save Nantes
Photo by IMAGO

It was his seventh assist of the season, which takes him to the top of the ladder in assists in Ligue 1.

Simon recorded 33 touches, with one shot off target and another blocked.

He completed 14 of his 16 attempted passes, achieving an 88% pass accuracy. He also registered four key passes and created four big chances.

The 29-year-old was successful in four of his five dribble attempts. However, none of his crosses found a teammate, and only one of his attempted long balls reached its target.

In duels, Simon contested one aerial duel, but was unsuccessful. On the ground, he won five of the seven duels he engaged in.

Simon: Super Eagles forward grabs assists in Nantes heavy Ligue 1 defeat

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)