Super Eagles centurion: Moses Simon’s 5 greatest Nigeria performances ranked

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has spent more than 11 years chasing balls, breaking defensive lines and carrying Nigeria’s green and white into some of African football’s most demanding nights, Afrik-Foot reports.

Now, the Paris FC forward stands on the edge of a landmark few Nigerian footballers have reached.

Simon has 99 senior appearances for Nigeria’s Super Eagles and is set to win his 100th cap against Madagascar in Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. The Nigeria Football Federation has already arranged a special ceremony for the occasion.

Only Ahmed Musa, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Alex Iwobi have previously reached 100 senior appearances for Nigeria.

Simon made his debut on March 25, 2015, against Uganda, entering in the 59th minute for Anthony Ujah under interim coach Daniel Amokachi. More than a decade later, his international record stands at 64 competitive appearances and 35 friendlies, including 23 AFCON finals matches and 22 World Cup qualifiers.

While many of his 12 international goals have been crucial, Moses Simon’s most influential performances have often come when his final contribution was a pass, a run, a piece of invention or a moment of individual brilliance.

These five games capture that evolution.

Super Eagles: Moses Simon’s best five games for Nigeria

5. Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria, September 4, 2017

Simon was only 22 when the Super Eagles travelled to Yaoundé for a World Cup qualifier carrying enormous consequences.

Three days earlier, the Super Eagles had dismantled Cameroon 4-0 in Uyo, putting Gernot Rohr’s side firmly in control of their qualifying group. The return meeting at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo offered Cameroon an opportunity to respond.

Simon struck first. The winger finished from close range in the 30th minute after a low cross escaped several Cameroonian defenders, putting Nigeria ahead in front of a hostile home crowd.

Vincent Aboubakar’s 75th-minute penalty eventually rescued a 1-1 draw for the hosts, but the result pushed Nigeria to 10 points from four matches and left Cameroon seven points behind with two games remaining.

It was an early glimpse of Simon’s appetite for consequential games.

4. Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria, January 22, 2024

Simon did not need a goal to dominate this one.

The Super Eagles arrived at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny knowing victory would secure passage to the knockout phase of the 2023 AFCON. Simon spent 90 minutes tormenting Guinea-Bissau from the flank and was eventually named CAF’s Man of the Match.

His decisive contribution came in the 36th minute. Simon delivered the cross that Guinea-Bissau defender Opa Sanganté diverted into his own net, handing Nigeria a 1-0 victory.

Simon’s movement, delivery and willingness to attack defenders repeatedly gave Nigeria an outlet in a match where the Super Eagles struggled to turn territorial control into goals.

Nigeria finished second in Group A with seven points and advanced to the last 16.

3. Nigeria 2-0 Eswatini, November 17, 2015

This was the performance that announced Simon as a player capable of producing something extraordinary when the Super Eagles desperately needed it.

The first leg against Swaziland, now Eswatini, had ended 0-0 in Mbabane. Nigeria therefore needed victory at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt to advance into the final qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.

The match drifted into frustration until Simon changed everything.

Six minutes after half-time, the then-20-year-old curled a spectacular free-kick from around 35 yards into the net. Efe Ambrose added a second goal in the 87th minute, sending Nigeria through with a 2-0 victory.

Simon had provided the spark when the entire evening was threatening to turn into another stalemate.

2. Nigeria’s Super Eagles 3-1 Sudan, January 15, 2022

This was Simon at his most productive. The Super Eagles had opened their 2021 AFCON campaign with a 1-0 victory over Egypt and entered the second group game against Sudan looking to strengthen their position in Garoua.

Simon started on the right side of Nigeria’s attack and delivered a performance that combined scoring instinct with creative responsibility.

He scored once and supplied an assist in the 3-1 victory, finishing with two shots on target and five crosses.

The performance gave Simon a direct hand in two of Nigeria’s three goals and helped Jose Peseiro’s predecessor, Augustine Eguavoen, secure another group-stage victory.

Nigeria had six points from two games and had already secured a place in the knockout phase before their final group match.

Simon had gone from explosive winger to complete attacking weapon.

📹 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: 🇳🇬 3-1 🇸🇩

Moses shines as Nigeria edge Sudan in a 4-goal thriller! 🔥#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #TeamNigeria | #TeamSudan | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/TYIXozvCIP

— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 15, 2022

1. Nigeria 1-0 Angola, February 2, 2024

If one performance captures the mature version of Moses Simon, this is it. Nigeria’s AFCON quarter-final against Angola was tense, physical and unforgiving. One mistake could have ended the Super Eagles’ run.

Simon instead produced the moment that opened the door to the semi-finals.

The winger collected the ball on the left, accelerated beyond Kialonda Gaspar and drove into the penalty area before cutting the ball back for Ademola Lookman. The Atalanta forward finished the move to give Nigeria a 1-0 victory.

CAF named Simon Man of the Match. The award was his second of the tournament after his performance against Guinea-Bissau, making him one of Nigeria’s most influential players during the run to the AFCON final.

Simon’s pace, balance, trickery and decision-making in the move was central to the goal, particularly his ability to evade his marker before recognising the space created by Victor Osimhen’s movement.

Simon finished the evening with 90 minutes played and three successful tackles, while his assist delivered the only goal of the contest.

More importantly, it was a performance that showed how far his game had travelled since that free-kick against Swaziland.

Overall, the Super Eagles won 49 of the 99 matches in which Simon featured, drew 30 and lost 20.