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Tag: Simon

  • Mollet salutes Simon after 8=goal thriller

    Mollet salutes Simon after 8=goal thriller

    French midfielder Florent Mollet has showered praises on Moses Simon following the Super Eagles star’s excellent showing against FC Lorient, Soccernet.ng reports.

    Simon was Lorient’s tormentor-in-chief as Nantes cruised to a 5-3 win at the Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau on Saturday afternoon.

    The exciting Nigerian winger provided two brilliant assists before scoring Nantes’ fifth goal from the penalty spot in the closing stages of the encounter.

    Read Also: Super Simon fires  Nantes to season’s first win

    Simon’s first assist allowed Matthis Abline to curl home Nantes equaliser while his second assist opened space for Mollet to tap in for the home side’s fourth of the match.

    It was Mollet’s first league goal of the season for Nantes and his second for the club since he joined from FC Schalke 04 in June last year.

    And the former Montpellier midfielder praised Simon, who has been unstoppable in recent weeks.

    “Moses (Simon) is someone who has fire in his legs. When he’s like that, he’s irresistible,” Mollet said, as per Tribune Nantais.

    Simon has contributed two goals and three assists in his last three games for Nantes.

    Before the Lorient game, Simon scored an audacious goal against Clermont Foot to give the Yellow Canaries their first league win of the season.

  • Super Simon fires  Nantes to season’s first win

    Super Simon fires  Nantes to season’s first win

    Super Eagles winger, Moses Simon notched the solitary winner  as Nantes edged  Clermont Foot 1-0 away for their first win of the season after five games.

    Nantes started the opening two games of the season with defeats against Toulouse and Lille but played two draws with Monaco (3-3) and Marseille (1-1) before yesterday’s  slim win at Clermont Foot.

    Simon who helped Nigeria complete the 2023 AFCON Qualifiers with a 6-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe has played in all Nantes five games this season.

    He scored the only goal of the game in the 48th  minute but Nantes had to survive a late penalty kick call from the hosts, Clermont Foot but it was missed Muhammed-Cham Saracevic in the 96th  minute.

    Read Also: Aruna retains African Championships title

    The Super Eagles forward let fly a long-range belter to leave the goalkeeper of the home team stranded after 48 minutes.

    The Nigerian winger is starting to find his form again after a disappointing 2022/23 season with Les Canaries, and has been involved in a goal for Nantes in his last two games for the club.

    He had an   assist against Marseille before the international break which was followed  yesterday with  the crucial winner  against Clermont Foot.

    Simon was available for the duration of the game for his fifth of the season and he has helped the Yellow and Green to the 15th  position with five points from five games.

    Nantes and Simon will host Lorient on Saturday in another French Ligue One tie.

  • Ighalo, Onyekuru, Simon on target

    The Super Eagles defeated the Pirates of Seychelles 3-1 in their final qualifying match of the 2019 African Cup of Nations played yesterday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.

    Goals from Odion Ighalo, Henry Onyekuru and substitute Moses Simon helped the Nigerian team defeat the underdogs in yesterday’s clash.

    Being well-placed at the top of the log, Gernot Rohr’s men came into the clash as huge favourites but showed less than what was expected of them in the first 45 minutes of the game.

    Odion Ighalo scored the opener for the Eagles via a spot kick in the 35th minute after Wilfred Ndidi was brought down in the Seychelles box.

    The Pirates then benefitted from a howler from Nigeria’s goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who failed to effectively punch a cross, to snatch an equaliser through Rody Melanie’s strike in the 41st minute.

    Read also: Season of harvest for Super Eagles and company!

    The Eagles came back better in the second-half and just five minutes after the restart, went into the lead through a header from Henry Onyekuru. The Galatasaray forward nodded into the net from a Jamilu Collins cross to send his effort past the Seychelles goalkeeper from close range.

    Moses Simon, who was introduced late in the second period, put the icing in the cake for the Eagles with a pin point strike in the box on the stroke of 90 minutes. The winger picked up a pass from Collins, twisted and turned, before blasting in at the near post for the Eagles third.

    Nigeria thus finish Group E as winners with an unassailable 13 points regardless of the outcome of Monday’s game between group mates Libya and South Africa.

    The Eagles will now have their attention turned to an international friendly against AFCON hosts Egypt on Tuesday.

  • Madu, Simon, Ndidi on Tottenham’s radar

    Madu, Simon, Ndidi on Tottenham’s radar

    Tottenham Hotspur
    are keeping close tabs on
    Nigerian youngsters Kingsley Madu, Moses Simon and Wilfred Ndidi ahead of next season.

    The club scouts watched the trio in action during Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Luxembourg on Tuesday night, and they were second half substitutes for Yusuf Salisu’s men at the Josy Barthel Stadium.

    19-year-old Ndidi features for KRC Gent in the Belgian Pro League and has a contract until 2020, while Simon who boasts of six international caps for Nigeria remains a player of KAA Gent till 2019.

    Madu, who will clock 21-years by December, is a player of Slovakia’s AS Trencín.

    According to the club’s website, the Lilywhites are paying close attention to the players.

  • GOLDEN BOY AWARD! IHEANACHO, SIMON MISS OUT

    GOLDEN BOY AWARD! IHEANACHO, SIMON MISS OUT

    SUPER EAGLES strikers, Moses Simon (Gent) and Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) have both missed out on the prestigious 2015 Golden Boy award for the best player in Europe under the age of 21 years.
    Manchester United’s France international Anthony Martial was crowned the winner of the award following his blistering start to his career with the Red Devils.
    30 of Europe’s leading newspapers, including Marca, L’équipe and The Times, were told to choose the most outstanding players from the 40 – man shortlist.
    The award has previously been won by Lionel Messi, Cesc Fàbregas, Paul Pogba and Raheem Sterling.
    No Nigerian player has won the award since it was created in 2003 by Italian publication Tuttosport.

  • Simon promises more goals

    Simon promises more goals

    KAA Gent and Nigeria winger, Moses Simon is  excited after helping Nigeria qualify for the final round of qualifiers for the FIFA 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia.

    The Super Eagles defeated Swaziland 2-0 in Port-Harcourt on Tuesday with goals from Simon and Efe Ambrose as Nigeria edged through 2-0 on aggregate after a goalless draw in the first leg in Lobamba.

    Incidentally, both players scored for Nigeria in the 3-0 demolition of Cameroun in last month’s friendly in Belgium and they repeated same feat against the Sihlangu with Simon catching the eye with a virtuoso performance at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

    “It was a very hard game but I’m happy we have qualified for the final round of the qualifiers, the hard work starts right now. The Swazi side were really stubborn and disciplined. It was difficult for us to get past their defence ,especially in the first half,” Simon told supersport.com.

    “It was always going to be a difficult game but we were patient the goals will come and it did come eventually. The coach told us not to panic and follow his instructions which we did and I’m happy we won. I give God the glory for the goal but most importantly that we have qualified. I thank Nigerians for their support,”the 20-year-old said.

    Simon also spoke about his free-kick goal which put Nigeria ahead in the game in the 51st minute before Efe Ambrose connected home Sylvester Igbonu’s set piece three minutes before time to set Nigeria on her way.

    The former AS Trecin star said he has been practising on various parts of his game and is happy his set pieces are yielding fruits.

    “I have been practising set-pieces and I’m happy I was able to pull it off and score the goal. You have to be versatile as a player and I’m a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo as I always try to learn from him,”Simon explained to supersport.com.

    “I hit the post with a free-kick in the first leg in Swaziland but I’m glad I hit the target at home. It’s been God’s grace all the way.

    “This is not even the time to talk about that goal. It is time to celebrate that Nigeria has qualified, that is the most important thing. We will continue to do our best and by God’s grace we shall succeed. I want to thank the Port-Harcourt fans for coming out to support the team.  The other players and I appreciate them,” he said.

  • Simon delighted with goal

    Simon delighted with goal

    Super Eagles striker, Moses Simon has expressed delight after scoring one of the goals that ensured Nigeria beat Swaziland 2-0 in their 2018 World Cup qualifier decided at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Simon partnered Watford striker, Ighalo and CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa as coach Sunday Oliseh maintained the striking trio that started the first leg in Lobamba in his 4-3-3 formation.

    The Nigerian team, who were held to a goalless draw in Friday’s game, had to endure a similar story of first-half frustration in front of their own fans.

    The unexpectedly dogged defence of the Swazi team ranked 130th in the world by FIFA was eventually broken six minutes after half-time when Simon curled home a magnificent 35-yard free-kick. The Gent of Belgium striker was replaced in the 82nd minute by Ezekiel Bassey.

    However, Nigeria had to wait until the 87th minute to make certain of their progress as Celtic defender, Efe Ambrose converted another set-play from close range.

    Simon took to the social media to thank God for scoring his third goal in his sixth appearance for the national team.

    “Thanking God for the  victory  and also for me scoring my 3rd goal for my great country.. ???? #SuperEagles #GodIsGood”, Moses tweeted.

  • Simon could miss Flying Eagles’ camp

    Simon could miss Flying Eagles’ camp

    SL10.ng understands that Gent striker Moses Simon has been named in the Flying Eagles’ provisional Fifa Under 20 World Cup squad list called up to attend a training camp ahead of the tournament in Oceania.

    Due to commitments with his Belgian club, there had been fears that the teenager, who is dubbed as the Nigerian Ronaldo, would not be available for the tournament which starts on May 30.

    If the Fifa rules are followed, the likes of Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali and Moses Simon must be released for the competition latest May 16th.

    Unlike Simon, the other three players will have no problem meeting up with the Nigeria Under 20s on or before the deadline.

    The Golden Boot Soccer Academy product has very important matches to play for Gent in the month of May, most especially against Anderlecht six days before the start of the tourney.

    Moses Simon has pleaded not to be left off the Flying Eagles roster, and it is understood that talks have taken place between the player and Gent to find a way around the problem.

    The 19-year- old has been in outstanding form since he joined Gent from AS Trencin in the January transfer window, scoring 6 goals in 9 matches in the top division.

  • Simon on target in Slovakia

    Simon on target in Slovakia

    Nigeria youth international Moses ‘Daddy’ Ajala Simon has got off to a great start in the new Corgon Liga season as he helped his Slovakian team AS Trecin beat Dunajská Streda 2-1 on the opening day of the new season.

    The diminutive winger, who has been on the radar of a host of European clubs, was on target in the 32nd minute of the game at the Štadión na Sihoti in Trecin before Peter Klešcík made it 2-0 to Trecin. An 88th minute consolation for Dunajská Streda scored by Jakub Brašen was not enough as Trecin began the season on a high.

    Simon has started off where he left from last season after scoring seven goals in 14 games for Trecin, a laudable feat considering he joined the team in the second half of the season.

    The former Ajax Amsterdam trainee, who was part of the Flying Eagles to the 2013 Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, told supersport.com that he hopes to build on the success of last season and help Trecin do well in the Europa League.

    “I’m really ecstatic about my goal in the first game of the 2014/15 season, but most importantly that we won the game and our first three points.

    “I’m getting more settled here and enjoying my football. I hope we can do well in the league and in Europe too. I’ll also love to surpass my records from last season,” he told supersport.com.

  • Theme : In God, I am unstoppable! Part 2

    Theme : In God, I am unstoppable! Part 2

    Text: “……. if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

    Stones also spoke when Simon after exploring all he knew as an experienced fisherman yet caught nothing. The unstoppable King stepped in, He woke all the sleeping and hiding fishes, His word nullified the laws that stipulated that fishes come to the surface only at night time. During the day time, Simon was awestruck by the number of fish he caught that made his net to break to the extent that their boats were filled with fish and their boats started to sink as a result of the exploit ( Luke 5:1-10).

    The Unstoppable God also has power to suspend the law of austerity. During the time of severe austerity, He can set some people apart from economic hurts. Isaac for instance sowed during the time of famine and got a hundredfold returns such that he became an object of envy of a whole nation (Genesis 26:12). It was the same with the widow of Zarephath that there was always flour and olive oil left in her containers until when famine ended (1 Kings 17:8-14). It was so miraculous that each time they wake up, they found food in their kitchen all through the time of famine.

    When God decides to do whatever, there is no man, power, political arrangement, church structure or powers of darkness that can stop Him. Even when men are cast down, He has power to declare a lifting up for the humble that whatsoever the person does prospers (Job 22:29; Psalm 1:3).

    The Unstoppable God who rode on a donkey to Jerusalem can open any closed doors. He had done it before and can always do it again because He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When the Israelites were going to the Promised land, the Egyptians went after them to destroy them because they knew they had nowhere to escape to but the Unstoppable God opened the Red Sea, created an ‘expressway’ in a difficult terrain and did it in a split second ( Exodus 14:21-22). It was the same when Elijah was almost stranded and the sons of the prophet had gathered to ridicule him because of no passage through the River Jordan after Elijah had been taken up but He parted the river and the sons of the prophet bowed before him ( 2 Kings 2:13-15).

    When Jesus Christ voiced it that stones will rise up and talk, He introduced a new dimension to His ministry that with Him nothing is impossible. From biblical history, it is common knowledge that inanimate things have come out from another inanimate thing before like water coming from stone and fire coming out from stone but for a living voice to come from an inanimate thing will be bewildering – The Unstoppable God can make a stone to assume the personality of a human being.

    During this Lenten period, the Unstoppable God who rode triumphantly to Jerusalem will visit wherever any of your loved ones, their destinies, marriage, education or business has been held captive as He did on His entry to Jerusalem. What you need to do to get maximum benefit of this season is to hearken to the voice of “I have need of you”, surrender to Him absolutely and your evil captors shall let go of you.

    Thereafter, He will make a way for you where it has been established that there is none, He will compel your stones to talk, help shall come for you from unexpected quarters as it happened with Elijah (IKgs 17: 1-7), He will fight for you using unconventional methods as He did for Israel (Joshua 10:10-11), roasted meat shall come to make you filled up, He will quest your thirst by opening the rock, shall create an express road for you even in the waters, take the power of hurt and damage from rivers, fire and lions ( Isaiah 43:2-4), He will free you from captivity, break every road junction injunction against your life, frustrate all satanic judgment, deliver you from inherited problems, give you latitude to eat what you want and not what you see and make you a celebrity like the donkey, in Jesus’ name.

    Prayers: Father, I surrender my life to you, let my life, family and work be an expression and demonstration of your unstoppable powers in Jesus’ name.