What began as a personal recollection from Super Eagles winger Moses Simon about a failed trial at Rangers International quickly developed into one of the biggest talking points in Nigerian football before ending with a public clarification from the Paris FC star following discussions with Rangers General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Amobi Ezeaku.
Within days, the controversy had triggered an official statement from the nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, widespread debate across social media and a wave of reactions from football supporters, many of whom challenged Simon’s account of events.
How it all started
The controversy began after Simon appeared on UrbanDwellSport podcast, where he narrated his experience of spending three months on trial with Rangers many years ago.
The 30-year-old revealed that he trained with the Enugu club for three months and even captained the screening team but was never offered a professional contract.
While reflecting on that period, Simon alleged that he believed he missed out on a deal because he was not Igbo.
“I went to Rangers and trained with them for three months. I wasn’t signed but I was training with them. In fact, I was the captain of the screening team,” Simon said.
He went further by alleging that another player who had spent only one week at the club received a contract ahead of him.
“I’ve never told anyone this story, this is the first time, but it was a disgrace. I was dropped because I was not Igbo.
“I was there for three months and a guy came… he just trained for one week and they signed him. They said because I was from the north or something.”
The interview immediately generated strong reactions across Nigeria’s football community.
Rangers reject allegation with club statement
Amobi Ezeaku is credited with creating Enugu Rangers’ first-ever women’s team under the Flying Antelopes brand, marking a historic first in the club’s 54‑year history. Photocredit: Rangers Media
Less than 24 hours later, Rangers International responded through an official statement signed by General Manager and CEO Amobi Ezeaku.
While acknowledging Simon’s right to share his personal experience, the reigning NPFL champions firmly rejected any suggestion that ethnicity had ever influenced the club’s recruitment process.
The club stressed that throughout more than five decades of existence, Rangers had welcomed players, coaches and officials from virtually every part of Nigeria and beyond, insisting that football ability, discipline, character and commitment had always remained the primary criteria for recruitment.
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The statement added that contract decisions were influenced by numerous football, technical and administrative considerations, making it inaccurate to portray Rangers as an institution that discriminates against players based on ethnic background.
Rangers also reaffirmed that the current administration has strengthened professionalism, meritocracy, diversity and inclusion across the club’s men’s, women’s and youth teams.
The statement concluded by describing Rangers as “a symbol of national integration, where talent speaks louder than tribe and performance remains the ultimate criterion for opportunity.”
Fans dig into Rangers’ history
The club’s response shifted the debate onto social media, where supporters began searching for evidence from the period Simon referenced.
Many circulated Rangers’ registered squad from the 2012/13 season under coach Okey Emordi, pointing out that the team included players from several ethnic backgrounds across Nigeria as well as a Ghanaian footballer.
Supporters highlighted that the squad featured Yoruba, northern, Urhobo, Ibibio and Idoma players, including Itodo Akor, who shares the same ethnic roots as Simon.
For many fans, the composition of that squad undermined Simon’s claim that Rangers only favoured Igbo players during that period.
Others argued that failing to earn a contract is a reality experienced by countless footballers and should not automatically be attributed to discrimination.
As the debate intensified, Simon came under sustained criticism online, with many Rangers supporters defending the club’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s most inclusive football institutions.
Private conversation changes the tone
Behind the scenes, Rangers CEO Amobi Ezeaku reached out personally to Simon.
Rather than allowing the disagreement to escalate publicly, both men held what Simon later described as an open and honest conversation.
That discussion appeared to pave the way for a more conciliatory statement from the Super Eagles winger.
Simon issues clarification
Moses Simon on a courtesy visit to Jerry Adams the current Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), during the inaugural Simon Moses Foundation U-17 Football Championship in Kaduna, a grassroots initiative held in partnership with the French Embassy. Photocredit: Jerry Adams/Facebook
Days after his original interview, Simon released a public clarification in which he sought to distinguish his personal experience from the present day Rangers International.
“The experiences at Rangers that I spoke about were my own and were based on a particular period in my journey. They should not be taken as a reflection of the current state of this great and historic club,” Simon wrote.
He acknowledged that clubs evolve over time and said he believed it was important to recognise that reality.
Simon also stressed that his comments were never intended to portray any tribe or ethnic group negatively.
“I have always believed in the values of respect, unity, and judging people by their character rather than their background.”
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The Paris FC winger thanked Ezeaku for contacting him personally, praising the Rangers CEO for his professionalism and willingness to engage in honest dialogue.
“I appreciated the opportunity to have an open and honest conversation, and I thank him for his understanding and professionalism.”
He concluded by wishing Rangers, its leadership, players, staff and supporters continued success.
Debate continues despite clarification
Although Simon’s clarification eased tensions between himself and Rangers’ current leadership, it did not completely silence public debate.
While many observers welcomed his effort to separate his personal experience from the present administration, some Rangers supporters argued that the statement stopped short of a direct apology to the nine time Nigerian champions.
Others described the clarification as an explanation rather than an apology, insisting the original allegation had unnecessarily fuelled ethnic tensions in a country where tribal issues remain particularly sensitive.
Some supporters also pointed to the recent launch of the Simon Moses Foundation, which aims to discover and develop young football talents in Kaduna State.
The foundation’s inaugural U-17 Boys and Girls Championship, organised in partnership with the French Embassy in Nigeria, attracted more than 60 teams and was widely praised for promoting grassroots football and social inclusion.
Against that backdrop, some fans argued that someone leading a talent identification programme should be especially careful when making allegations about selection processes without conclusive evidence. Others said the true test of the foundation’s philosophy would come when it begins selecting young players purely on merit.
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Where things stand
For now, the immediate disagreement between Simon and Rangers appears to have been defused following the intervention of the club’s current leadership.
What began as a personal story from one of the country’s most accomplished footballers has evolved into a broader discussion, While Rangers have firmly defended their institutional values and Simon has clarified that his remarks were not intended as a reflection of the current club or any ethnic group, opinions among football fans remain divided over whether the clarification has fully brought the matter to a close.
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