Every football enthusiast feels a rush of excitement when they witness attacking wing play at its most lethal, captivating, and thrilling.
A quick step-over, drop of the shoulder and skip past the full-back is what dreams are made of. I may be whetting your appetite but watching a winger bombing down the sidelines is a sight that seems to be from a far-flung climate.
Super Eagles' forward Moses Simon exhibits all that there is to expect from a talented winger. He lights up games with his superb passing, remarkable dribbles, and prolific goals, all while married to a nonchalant action style.
The 28-year-old played a vital role in Jose Peseiro's Super Eagles squad, which competed in the recently concluded 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
Though he failed to find the back of the net in the games he featured for the Super Eagles in Ivory Coast, Simon dazzled with his dribbling prowess that got the fans excited.
There’s always an instant sense of bums-off-seats excitements Simon picks up the ball. Nobody is necessarily sure what’s going to happen, but the sense of anticipation is always high.
Moses Simon earns European recognition
As per data from sports analytics organisation OptaJose, Simon was recognised as one of the most effective dribblers in Europe.
The Nantes man secured the fourth position, following Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku, and Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane in the rankings.
The statistics also reveal that Simon has successfully completed more than 55% of his attempted dribbles this season.
This figure significantly surpasses many players renowned for their ability to take on defenders, such as Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Paris-Saint Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.
However, it's important to note that the Nigerian forward's dribbling skills have consistently led to goal-scoring opportunities for Les Canaries. He has contributed to seven goals in his 18 appearances this season.
He is blessed with the ability to change direction with almost effortless ease, and his balance on the ball, combined with great awareness of what’s around him, makes him a constant threat.
Simon, who received the Player of the Match award twice during the AFCON, currently holds the distinction of being the top dribbler in Ligue 1.
Moses Simon's journey as a professional footballer
Born in Jos, Moses Simon's father served in the Nigerian Army before retiring. He emerged from the renowned GBS Academy, the same football academy in Nigeria that produced notable players like Ahmed Musa.
Initially linked with Nigerian Premier League club Kaduna United, Simon garnered interest from numerous professional clubs worldwide, including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
On May 10, 2013, it was revealed that Simon had signed a pre-contractual agreement with Dutch club Ajax, marking the beginning of his European journey.
Despite making a positive impact in pre-season, Ajax decided not to sign him permanently, leading to discussions with AS Trenčín, Ajax's partner club in Slovakia.
Subsequently, he made a move to Belgian club Gent, where he spent three years before transferring to Spanish club Levante.
Following a successful loan stint with Nantes in 2019, the move was made permanent in 2020, solidifying his position in the French club.
Moses Simon's bromance with Nigeria
Moses Simon earned his inaugural call-up to the Nigeria national team under coach Daniel Amokachi in March 2015. He made his debut on the 25th of the same month in an international friendly against Uganda, entering the match as a substitute for Anthony Ujah in the 59th minute.
His first goal for Nigeria came in an international friendly against Niger on September 8, 2015, contributing to a 2–0 victory.
He was part of Nigeria's 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics. In May 2018, Simon was named in Nigeria's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia but missed the final 23 due to injury.
However, he was included in the country's 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Since his debut, Simon has scored nine goals in 69 appearances for the Super Eagles.
