Super Eagles winger Moses Simon says Nigeria are giving full attention to their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final against Algeria, insisting that past results and tournament statistics will count for little in a knockout contest.
Nigeria arrive at the last-eight stage as one of the standout teams of AFCON 2025, having won all four of their matches so far. Eric Chelle’s side are also the competition’s top scorers, with 12 goals, while conceding four.
Despite that strong run, Simon said the squad is deliberately avoiding complacency as they prepare for Saturday’s meeting at the Stade de Marrakech.
“People talk about our form and the number of goals we have scored, but football doesn’t work like that,” he said.
“What matters now is the next game. Our focus is on Algeria.”
Moses Simon in the pre match press conference. Photo Credit: Justina Aniefiok
Algeria represent Nigeria’s most experienced test of the tournament so far, having conceded just once on their route to the quarter-finals.
Simon, who was part of the Nigeria side beaten by Algeria in the semi-finals of AFCON 2019, said there was no sense of revenge within the camp.
“That was then,” he said. “It’s a different team and a different mindset. This is the present, and a lot of young players want to make a name for themselves.”
Eric Chelle. Photo Credit:Imago
Head coach Eric Chelle echoed that message, stressing the importance of composure and belief at this stage of the competition.
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“To win, you have to score goals,” Chelle said. “We analyse the opponent, look for weaknesses and make sure the players believe they can exploit them. In the quarter-finals, mindset is crucial.”
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Nigeria are chasing a place in the AFCON semi-finals, with Simon insisting that focus, rather than form, will decide the outcome against the North African side.
“There’s no revenge mindset,” he added. “We just want to play our game and win.”
