Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has been in electric form at the ongoing 2021 AFCON. He will be pivotal to the team’s success at the continental showpiece, writes JOHNNY EDWARD, who is covering the event in Cameroon
William Troost-Ekong has first-hand experience of that sickening sense of helplessness that grips defenders whenever the ball veers towards Moses Simon, with the fleet-footed and tricky winger racing towards the box in readiness to wreak havoc.
The Super Eagles vice captain has endured this ‘trauma’ over and over again in the team’s tactical training for a little over a week at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, so he knows.
Simon’s touches and moves at the AFCON sparks memories of how Spartak Moscow winger Victor Moses inspired Nigeria to their third AFCON title at the 2013 edition in South Africa.
“He (Simon) is on fire here now and everything he touches seems to work for him and the team as well,” Troost-Ekong told SUNDAY PUNCH.
Group D winners Nigeria battle Tunisia, who finished third in Group F, in a heavyweights Round of 16 clash at the Roumde Adija Stadium, Garoua on Sunday.
Can this ‘New Moses’ lead the Eagles past the Tunisians and on to a fourth title in Cameroon?
Prior to this tournament, the Nantes winger was one of the players that underperformed while Gernot Rohr was in charge of the team and came under scathing criticisms, like his teammates, for not giving enough to the national team.
Rohr admitted that he was pressured to drop the Nantes forward on several occasions.
“When I was coach (of the Eagles), a lot of people wanted me to drop him, but he is very important to my team,” Rohr, a pundit at the AFCON, said.
However, after just three games under new coach Austin Eguavoen, the 25-year-old seems to have rediscovered the form that once saw him being tipped to step into the boots of some of the country’s reverred wing men like Finidi George, Emmanuel Amuneke, Tijani Babangida and others.
Simon has shown that he is the only player capable of making a difference and swinging the momentum of a match in his side’s favour at the ongoing tournament.
But how did he suddenly become so pivotal to the Eagles in just these three games? How had he gone from a player who was often maligned for his poor deliveries to the latest bride of the hard-to-please Nigerian fans?
Well, the former Gent man knew that for him to win back the trust, he needed the big stage like the AFCON to showcase the stuff he’s truly made of.
This he did.
In the Eagles Group D opening 1-0 win over Egypt, he was a thorn in the flesh of the Pharaohs defence all day and had a hand in the Eagles solitary goal, before he scored and provided an assist as the three-time African champions beat Sudan 3-1 in their next game.
In the team’s final fixture, Simon came on for Chidera Ejuke after the restart and it was his impact that saw Troost-Ekong seal victory for the Eagles in the 2-0 win over the Wild Dogs.
And the stocky wide man did it in typical fashion.
He breezed past a sea of quivering legs inside the box, selling a dummy here and there — and the Bissau-Guineans bought it — before releasing a scorcher that ricocheted off the upright, with Troost-Ekong gently tapping in the rebound.
“It is not dazzling skills. He is just brilliant at what he does,” Troost-Ekong added, while reflecting on Simon’s moment of magic that led to Nigeria’s goal number two.
“I hope it stays like this till the end when we lift the trophy. He has always been an important player for the team and there is no real secret to him, that is the brilliance of Simon.”
Simon’s performance against the Wild Dogs sparked comparisons with legends Brazilian Ronaldinho and Austin Okocha on social media.
Sam Komaya wrote, “Moses Simon transformed into Ronaldinho overnight. Sabi player.”
Another fan Framework added, “Simon Moses na Okocha+Ronaldinho. Moses has come to take us to the promised land.”
Also, Damifc stated, “Moses Simon sits on the same table as Ronaldinho, Neymar & JJ Okocha. He is an entertainer.”
Rohr said he never doubted Simon’s ability to give his best to the team.
“He puts the team first and plays for all with ease. I love his attitude on the pitch and he’s a perfect gentleman off the pitch,” the 68-year-old Franco-German said.
Simon understands the expectations back home but insists he and his teammates are not under pressure to deliver.
“Actually we don’t have any pressure, we are a group that believes in ourselves, and I believe there is no pressure, we just need to take things step-by-step,” Simon said after the win over Guinea-Bissau.
Glasgow Rangers defender Leon Balogun is gutted missing the AFCON due to injury but he’s followed the squad religiously from his Glasgow base.
The central defender believes Simon is unstoppable at the tournament.
“Simon, for me, is our most dangerous player at this tournament. He is the one with the most impact and most assists,” Balogun told SUNDAY PUNCH.
Truly, the former Levante star has had a hand in four of the six goals the Eagles has scored at the tournament.
“His statistics speak for him,” Balogun added.
“So, they will probably focus on Moses but first they have to stop him and I don’t think that will be easy because his confidence is growing. Look at what he did against Guinea-Bissau that led to Troost-Ekong’s goal.
“We also have players like Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze and Joe Aribo, who could drive in and pick a pass, which is very good for the squad.”
Coach Austin Eguavoen believes with more consistency on Simon’s part, the Eagles stand a big chance of landing a fourth title. “He (Simon) is playing with a lot of freedom, which is good for the team. Like I have said, we need to work harder as a team to ensure we take the chances we create,” Eguavoen said.
“Just like every member of the team, Moses is important to our success and we hope his blistering form continues.
“I believe in the squad from the bottom of my heart. I believe we are capable but there is a big difference between believing in something and doing it. That is why we want to qualify for the quarter-final on Sunday and then look forward to making a big impact at this tournament. And use the belief and the quality to do so.”
The Eagles engage Tunisia in a make-or-break last 16 contest in the 21st meeting between both teams.
In 20 previous clashes, the Nigerians recorded six wins, six defeats and eight draws against the North Africans.
While the Eagles have been cruising at the AFCON, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia barely managed to qualify after loses to Mali and debutants Gambia, with their win against Mauritania enough to take them to the knockout stage on three points.
Despite this, you can never write off the Tunisians at this level of African fans, Simon agrees.
“Actually, we don’t have any favourite team, we just believe any team that comes our way, we will do our best to win,” he stated.
Football-crazy fans back home vividly remember the Eagles’ last win over Tunisia at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where Odion Ighalo’s third minute strike at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo was all they needed to power past their opponents and secure the tournament’s bronze medal.
This time around, they will be counting on magic man Simon in Garoua to advance. (Punch)
