Moses Simon has revealed his target for Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, saying he will be delighted if he can help the Super Eagles reach the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on February 11, 2024.
Nigeria are on course to advance to the last 16 of the 2023 AFCON following their hard-fought 1-0 win against Ivory Coast on Thursday, courtesy of William Troost-Ekong’s game-winning strike at the 55th minute.
Simon is one of the seasoned campaigners for the Nigeria side at the Africa Cup of Nations, having made eleven career appearances in the competition, bettered only by Kenneth Omeruo (16), Ahmed Musa (14), Alex Iwobi (13) and Troost-Ekong (12).
Although he started the first game against Equatorial Guinea, the Nantes man is behind AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze in manager Jose Peseiro’s pecking order of right wingers.
The Super Eagles face a tough challenge to advance to the final, with Senegal and Morocco living up to the tournament favorites tag, while Cape Verde have emerged as a dark horse with a hundred percent record in their first two games.
“Of course it makes me feel good. I’m really happy for the team, I am happy for the group. The important thing is we work together,” Simon said to reporters in the mixed zone after the match against Ivory Coast.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team. We just need to work together. My target is to work and see if we can reach the final,” he said.
Nigeria have reached the Africa Cup of Nations final seven times in the past, winning it on three occasions (1980, 1994 and 2013).
