2023 AFCON: Don’t expect entertainment football – Moses Simon

By Saheed Afolabi

Nantes forward, Moses Simon has told fans not to expect entertainment football from Nigeria at the upcoming Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast.

The three times champions will be making their 21st appearance at the biggest football competition in Africa next year January.

Simon revealed the Super Eagles have what it takes to win the next AFCON in Ivory Coast and he promised the team will give their best shot at the title, assuring the Eagles can win the AFCON trophy with doggedness and squad quality without playing ugly.

“Yes, we may not be playing the kind of football that catches the eye presently but we have the quality and talents to win the AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire. We will give it our best shot to win the title for ourselves and the country,” Simon was quoted by Complete Sports.

“We may not entertain or play flowing football, but we can win the cup with the quality and doggedness we boast of. Haven’t you seen teams play ugly football to get results? We won’t play ugly, but we may not play the best football to win in Cote d’Ivoire.

“I am not saying we won’t try to entertain, but our main aim in Cote D’Ivoire will be to play to win the title. We will be purposeful and direct, but it all depends on how the coach wants us to go about it. We play as the coach wants us to play, but we just want to win the title.”

Nigeria will trade tackles with host nation, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in group A with the first two teams advancing to the knockout stage.