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French coach Antoine Kombouare challenged Moses Simon to maintain top level.
Although he has had a blistering start to the season, Moses Simon’s return to action has been ahead of schedule, much to the surprise of Nantes boss Antoine Kombouare.
Moses Simon's fight back from injury
The Super Eagles winger was one of the best players in Ligue 1 last season, leading the division in assists before an unfortunate injury abruptly ended his campaign.
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21:47 - 25.08.2024
Moses Simon: Super Eagles star scores as Nantes defeat Auxerre
Moses Simon scored a spectacular goal in the 14th minute before being replaced by Egypt international Mostafa Mohamed late in the game.
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23:57 - 03.08.2024
Super Eagles on fire: Orban bags brace, Simon shines in pre-season friendlies
Pre-season continues to be fruitful for Nigerian stars as two of the country's brightest scored for their teams.
The 29-year-old needed the rest of the season to convalesce, which affected his summer club and country activities. He was unavailable for the Super Eagles World Cup qualifier clashes against Benin Republic and South Africa and played through pain during preseason for Nantes.
He raced against time to be ready for the new campaign, with manager Kombouare revealing that they prepared to start the season without him. However, Moses saw a quick turnaround in his health and wasted no time showing his level, as he scored in his second start of the season to help Nantes beat Auxerre and end their run of nine consecutive defeats at Stade de la Beaujoire.
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What Kombouare said
“We were not far from thinking that he was not going to start the season,” he told reporters, per the Tribune Nantaise. “He was never able to play all his friendly matches without pain. And then I don’t know what happened, but three days before the match, he started to feel good.”
The French tactician acknowledged Simon’s status as the top player in the team but suggested that he would not hold space for him, as he challenged the Nigerian to continue proving himself.
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“You have a team with Simon and without Simon, but he has to prove it again this season. What he did in previous seasons was good; he made himself indispensable at times; he made himself important, but we have to reset the counters to zero.
“He gives strength, and energy to his teammates when he is on the pitch. He knows how to speak out because he is small but he has a lot of character; he does not let people walk all over him.”
While the NFF are yet to make an appointment for the next Super Eagles boss, with Swede manager Janne Andersson in pole position to land the job, Simon's return to top form will certainly come as a boon to whoever is in the dugouts in September, when Nigeria play Benin Republic and Rwanda for a spot at the next AFCON.
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