Super Eagles winger Moses Simon was the difference-maker on Friday night, delivering a moment of brilliance that inspired Nantes to a 2-1 win over OGC Nice at the Allianz Riviera.
It was Simon’s ninth assist of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. After a frustrating 3-2 loss to Le Havre, Nantes needed a lift and their Nigerian playmaker delivered it just 11 minutes in.
Simon showed off his trademark vision and precision, slicing through the Nice defense with a pinpoint ball to Douglas Augusto, who made no mistake in finishing past the onrushing goalkeeper.
But the hosts hit back quickly. Just three minutes later, Ali Abdi found space on the edge of the box and fired a low drive into the bottom corner to level the score at 1-1.
7 goals and 9 assists in 32 games for the Nigerian winger. Photo Credit: Imago
The back-and-forth battle continued, and just before halftime, Nantes regained the lead. Matthis Abline capitalized on a defensive slip, lashing home a sharp left-footed finish to make it 2-1—a lead Nantes would protect until the final whistle.
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Simon’s Standout Season Reaches New Heights
With that assist, Simon now has 16 goal contributions this season—7 goals and 9 assists—cementing his reputation as one of Ligue 1’s most dangerous wide men.
He currently shares the league lead in assists and tops the charts for successful dribbles with 105, a stat that speaks to the constant threat he poses to defenders.
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In his last seven outings, Simon has scored twice and provided three assists, underlining just how vital he’s been in Nantes’ push to stay in the top flight.
The club now sits 13th on the table with 30 points, still in the thick of the relegation battle.
Recognition Beyond the Club
Simon’s strong performances haven’t gone unnoticed. The 29-year-old has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 Marc-Vivien Foé Award, which honours the best African player in Ligue 1.
This is his fourth nomination, having previously made the list in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
He joins a star-studded lineup of nominees, including PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Nice’s Evann Guessand. Should he win, Simon would become the third Nigerian to claim the award, following Vincent Enyeama (2014) and Victor Osimhen (2020).
Despite the challenges Nantes have faced this season, Moses Simon has emerged as a shining light—consistently delivering when it matters most, and showing no signs of slowing down.
