AFCON 2025
Moses Simon has joined an exclusive group of Nigerian footballers to reach 100 senior international appearances after featuring in the Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday.
The Paris FC winger, who made his Super Eagles debut on March 25, 2015, against Uganda under interim coach Daniel Amokachi, reached the landmark 11 years after first representing Nigeria at senior level.
Simon becomes only the fifth Nigerian to earn 100 caps for the Super Eagles, joining Ahmed Musa, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Alex Iwobi in the century club.
According to figures from the Nigeria Football Federation, Simon entered the Madagascar game with 99 appearances and 12 international goals. His previous 99 matches had produced 49 wins, 30 draws and 20 defeats for Nigeria.
Of those appearances, 64 came in competitive matches and 35 in international friendlies. His international record also includes 23 appearances at Africa Cup of Nations finals and 22 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
The NFF had announced that Simon would be honoured if he featured against Madagascar, with Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme praising the winger’s commitment to the national team.
Simon’s international journey has included several memorable moments. One of his early defining contributions came during Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign against Swaziland, now Eswatini. Following a goalless first-leg draw in Mbabane, Simon scored a late 22-yard free-kick in Port Harcourt as the Super Eagles secured a 2-0 victory.
His first international goal had come earlier, in a 2015 friendly against Niger in Port Harcourt.
The 100-cap milestone marks more than a decade of international football for Simon, who has played under several coaches and remained a regular part of the Super Eagles squad when available.
With 100 appearances now to his name, Simon is two games away from matching the 101-cap marks held by Enyeama, Yobo and Iwobi.
His milestone came on a successful night for Nigeria, as Éric Chelle’s side began their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo.
