AFCON
FIFA focuses on Moses Simon, the expected Nigeria’s star man at AFCON 2023
Nantes and Nigeria winger speaks to FIFA about the highs and lows of his career, from his early years playing in Slovakia to captaining his country.
- Nigeria have opened with two draws in CAF qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
- Moses Simon, who captained the team against Zimbabwe, speaks to FIFA
- Nantes player reflects on the highs and lows of his career
In the Simon family, discipline has always been a prized value. Born in 1995 in Jos, Nigeria, to a father who was in the military, Moses Simon was raised in an army barracks and quickly got used to 5am starts. Although expected to follow in his father’s footsteps in the armed forces, he opted to pursue a completely different career – albeit one that also required discipline – in football.
At the tender age of 18, this graduate of the GBS Academy in Lagos flew to the Netherlands in the summer of 2013 to take part in preseason training with the Ajax reserves, although ultimately the Amsterdam club decided not to retain him.
The young Nigerian took the setback it in his stride and soon after signed for Slovakian outfit AS Trencin, arriving in the throes of winter. “At first I was a bit scared,” Simon admitted in an exclusive interview with FIFA.
By dint of hard work and discipline, that fear quickly dissipated, paving the way for an impressive toplevel career. After Trencin, the wide man gained further experience at Gent, where he won the Belgian championship, then at Spanish club Levante, before a 2019 move took him to French Ligue 1 side Nantes, with whom he won the Coupe de France in 2022.
The 28yearold has also enjoyed some great experiences with the Super Eagles. His first international competition was at the FIFA U20 World Cup Turkey 2013™, before he had even turned 18. “I was young, but I had the ability,” Simon recalls. An unused squad member on that occasion, he would return to play an important part at the next edition two years later in New Zealand.
However, the winger is still waiting for his first experience of a senior FIFA World Cup™.
After featuring in the qualifiers for Russia 2018 and making then coach Gernot Rohr’s provisional squad for the tournament, he had to withdraw due to injury.
Four years later, the Super Eagles lost out on a place in Qatar after being beaten in a playoff by Ghana on away goals. “Missing the World Cup is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” Simon said.
The Nigerian is now hoping to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 26™ despite the Super Eagles beginning their qualifying campaign with consecutive 11 draws with Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
In conversation with FIFA, he looks back on the ups and downs of his club and international career to date.
FIFA: Your career has not followed a typical path. How did you find moving to Slovakia aged just 19?
Moses Simon: ”It was hard. I was in Holland before going to Slovakia, but it was during the summer. And I left to Slovakia during the winter, in January. So, it was hard with the wind especially.
“I didn’t expect it to be so cold. And I had never seen snow before! At first, I was a little bit scared. I was wondering: if someone kicks me, what would the pain feel like?
“I thought I was going to play just like I had in Holland, but it was totally different. But the important thing is that I had a Nigerian player with me [Kingsley Madu]. We had played together in Nigeria.
“It was good because we could communicate with each other, we helped each other.
“Everywhere I go, I always meet a Nigerian or a Ghanian player. We speak the same tongue. It’s like meeting a brother. You can interact. They are like a family that try to help you.”
What kind of routine did you have in Slovakia?
“I just stayed in my room, just going out for training then came back, I never went out. Training, home, training, home. But I got used to it.
“I’m the kind of person that doesn’t go out most of the time because this is the way I was brought up. From school, you go home. From training, you go home.
“They taught us that the more time you stayed outside, the more problems you brought home. So after school, we always went straight back home.
“After training, home. There was no difference when I arrived in Slovakia.”
When you started playing in Holland and then in Slovakia, did you believe you could have the career you’ve had?
“I didn’t think so, but I had the feeling that I was going to ‘make it’ – that is becoming a professional player, which contributes to the life of my parents, my siblings, my friends. It gave me a new life.
“Once you’re a professional player, no matter what it takes, you will have something to take back home. And back home, people struggle to eat.
“So once you make it, you can feed your family members. I wanted to make it so my people could be proud of me. And today, I know they are.”
At international level, you’ve also had success and were part of Nigeria squads at two U20 World Cups. What memories do you have from those tournaments?
“My first one was in 2013 in Turkey. I was 17, I was like a ball boy and I didn’t play one single game. I was really young but I was capable.
“Then there was 2015 in New Zealand. It was the farthestaway country I’ve ever been to, I thought we were going to the end of the world!
“I even felt sick because it was very long. But the World Cup was fantastic for me, really fantastic. We eventually lost [10 in the Round of 16 against Germany], but I had a really good time.”
Then, with the senior team, you missed out on 2018 through injury and Nigeria didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup. How did that feel?
“In 2018, at first, I felt really sad. I played all the qualification games, I started and I finished [the matches]. But in the end, I didn’t go to the World Cup.
“It’s something I would not wish on my worst enemy. I was really devastated. But not any more. Now, I just think: ‘OK, I thank God for everything because I know that it’s for a reason.’
“It [not going to the 2018 World Cup and or qualifying for Qatar 2022] motivated me to keep working hard. I want to play in the next World Cup, it’s a dream.
“I just need to do my best, push and work hard. If the coach calls me, good. If he doesn’t and calls up someone else, I will be happy to support them.”
You wore the captain’s armband in Nigeria’s match against Zimbabwe on 19 November. What did that mean to you?
“First of all, I have to thank the coach for that. Then, I want to thank the players for the respect they give me. To be the captain of your nation is a big honour, but it is not easy.
“It’s not the same as being captain in your club. You carry the whole nation, so you have to be a strong leader.
“I’m really happy that I captained Nigeria and, even if I’m told that I won’t be the captain any more, I’m still grateful for the opportunity.
“Football has taken me all the way to captaining the Super Eagles! I had never, ever been the captain of even the Academy where I came from, so it meant so much.”
Looking back at all those experiences you have lived through – from playing in Slovakia to captaining your country – what advice would you give to your 19yearold self?
“I would just say: you can do more. At 19, it is the time you need to prove to the world that you are one of the best players.
“If you can put this in your head, you will make it for sure. You will go further than where you are now. Just keep working.
“Also, respect the people around you. Respect your coaches. Listen to what they say, this is key.
“Don’t argue with your leader or with anyone that is older than you and that has seen it all before you. Listen and understand, and you will go far.”
CREDIT: FIFA.com
The African Football Confederation (CAF) and Royal Air Maroc (RAM) have sealed a historic strategic partnership that grants Morocco’s national airline the status of “Official Global Partner” for upcoming major African football competitions.
The agreement was signed Saturday morning in Casablanca, in the presence of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaâ.
This partnership encompasses several prestigious tournaments, including the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (AFCON) 2025 (December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026) and CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (WAFCON) 2024 (July 5-26, 2025).
The agreement also covers CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF Champions League 2024/2025 Finals, CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025 Finals, and the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe voiced enthusiasm about the collaboration.
“We are excited about the partnership between CAF and Royal Air Maroc, a world-class airline that will provide comfort and fly NationalTeams participating in the CAF competitions,” he said.
“We are confident that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be the most successful AFCON in the history of this competition.”
The agreement strengthens RAM’s footprint across Africa and globally, solidifying its role as a strategic gateway between Africa and the rest of the world. It also aligns with Morocco’s emergence as an international sports hub, with the country preparing to host AFCON 2025 and co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030.
RAM’s Chairman and CEO Hamid Addou stated: “This historic partnership with CAF aligns fully with our strategic vision as an airline deeply rooted in Africa and committed to its development.”
“Royal Air Maroc doesn’t just connect destinations; it builds bridges between cultures and passions. By supporting the continent’s biggest football competitions, we reaffirm our role as a facilitator of human and sporting exchanges,” he continued.
500,000 supporters expected
Beyond its partnership role, RAM will implement an exceptional operational system to meet increased demand during CAF competitions. The airline plans to welcome over 500,000 supporters for AFCON 2025.
“We believe we will surpass this figure by far,” revealed Addou. “We will be ready to accommodate these supporters across Royal Air Maroc’s entire network.”
The airline intends to double seat capacity from qualified countries already served by RAM, such as Dakar, Abidjan, Cairo, Tunis, Bamako, Lagos, and Douala.
RAM will also intensify flight frequencies from European cities with large African communities, including Paris, Brussels, Milan, London, Marseille, Lyon, Madrid, and Barcelona.
Additionally, the airline will establish a dedicated program for domestic air transport of national teams, shuttling them between their base camps and host cities.
This positioning establishes RAM as the primary connector between Africa and Europe through its Casablanca hub. FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaâ noted that the contract “reinforces Royal Air Maroc’s first-rate leadership role in Africa.”
“Royal Air Maroc is no stranger to football,” Lekjaâ added. “It has always supported generations of our athletes and footballers here in Morocco.”
“With this expertise and experience, they will contribute significantly to making AFCON 2025 Morocco exceptional, a historic turning point in African football, cultural coexistence and African cultural exchange,” he concluded.
Addou stressed RAM’s commitment to African unity: “We are all extremely proud to be African, and in every corner of this vast and magnificent continent, we share the same ambition—to actively contribute to Africa’s development and influence.”
The RAM CEO concluded by inviting everyone to upcoming CAF calendar events: “We’ll see you very soon for the great moments ahead in the CAF calendar, particularly the Women’s AFCON starting in July and, of course, the men’s AFCON, which kicks off on December 25.”
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The presidents of the regional councils concerned by the hosting of the matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025) unanimously affirmed that the implementation of infrastructure projects in anticipation of this continental event “is progressing at a sustained pace”, declaring themselves “fully mobilized” to crown with success the major sporting events scheduled in the Kingdom.
They specified, in statements to the press in Rabat following a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior devoted to the assessment of the progress of the construction and rehabilitation works of the stadiums, that major sports infrastructure projects are underway in the six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir.
The President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, Abdellatif Maâzouz, announced that the projects planned for upcoming international sporting events, in particular the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, “are proceeding under good conditions.”
The projects related to the organisation of the AFCON will be ready by next July at the latest, he assured, specifying that there is a clear vision regarding the preparations underway for the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup, both in terms of equipment and organisational arrangements related to human resources and animation.
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AFCON
‘Land of Football’ is ‘Kingdom of Light’ as Moroccan Tourism Office and Football Federation Strike Accord
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Morocco’s football federation and tourism office have signed a groundbreaking agreement to establish the country as a major football and tourism destination leading to the milestone 2030 World Cup when the global football tournament clocks a century.
The Moroccan football body and the Tourism Office are building on the national team’s recent international success.
Though with just one success in the Africa Cup of Nations, Moroccan football soars higher than the rest in Africa and the Arab world at the World Cup.
Apart from being the only African and Arab country to have reached the World Cup semi-final stage, Morocco in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico became the first African team not to be defeated in a World Cup match when they forced Bulgaria to a 1-1 draw on 11 June.
Again, in Mexico, this time at the 1986 World Cup, Morocco became the first African team to top a group and cross the group stage.
They were just two minutes away from a major upset of West Germany in the round of 16 before Lothar Matthäus’ back-breaking goal.
The success of the football team and the tourism potential of Morocco have found a harmonious chord.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the National Moroccan Tourism Office (ONMT) will work together under the banner “Morocco, Land of Football,” placing the sport at the heart of the country’s tourism strategy.
“More than an institutional partnership, this convention is a shared vision: that of a Morocco that shines through football and makes it a lever for promotion, pride and tourist attractiveness,” ONMT said in a statement released after the signing.
The timing of this collaboration is strategic, coming ahead of two major sporting events: the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The initiative builds on widespread public enthusiasm following the Atlas Lions’ historic World Cup performance in 2022.
Under the agreement, both organizations will implement an integrated communication strategy combining visibility campaigns, influence marketing, and joint promotional activities.
The initiative will mobilize iconic figures from Moroccan football to bring this vision to life, to showcase the country’s world-class sporting facilities, rich cultural heritage, and diverse tourist attractions.
ONMT has launched a major offensive at making Morocco, the ultimate tourism and business destination as the clock ticks down to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations holding in December.
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