Nigeria's Moses Simon has been shortlisted for the Marc-Vivien Foé Award, which honors the best African footballer in France's Ligue 1.
The FC Nantes winger has been a shining light for his club, despite their struggles this season, and now joins an elite list of 12 nominees vying for the accolade.
Simon, who was nominated last year, has continued to prove his worth in the French top flight. This season, the Super Eagles star has featured in 25 Ligue 1 matches, contributing seven goals and eight assists, directly influencing 48% of his team's league goals.
This marks Simon’s fourth career nomination for the award, having previously been shortlisted in 2020, 2022, and 2024. His consistency in Ligue 1 has made him a regular contender for the prize, which is organized by RFI and France 24.
The 29-year-old is among 12 nominees competing for this year’s accolade, alongside Lamine Camara, Habib Diarra, Moussa Niakhaté, Evann Guessand, Hamed Junior Traoré, Yahia Fofana, Achraf Hakimi, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Amine Gouiri, Himad Abdelli, and Abdoulaye Touré.
Moses Simon & Nigeria's history in the Marc-Vivien Foe award
Since the award's inception, two Nigerian players have won the Marc-Vivien Foé Award. Legendary goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama became the first Nigerian and the first goalkeeper to claim the prize in 2014 after a remarkable season with Lille.
Six years later, Victor Osimhen followed suit, winning in 2020 after scoring 13 league goals for the same club before securing a move to Napoli.
Now, Simon has the opportunity to follow in their footsteps and become the third Nigerian to win the prestigious award.
A jury of nearly 100 journalists specializing in French and African football will determine the winner, considering performances throughout the season. To be eligible, a player must have represented an African national team, played at least 15 Ligue 1 matches, and not switched nationality during their career
