IKENWA NNABUOGOR welcomes the Super Eagles new Messiah Moses Simon and urges him to fire his country to a fourth continental crown in Cameroon…
The last time Super Eagles had an interesting Moses was in 2018 when Spartak Moscow winger Victor Moses played his last game for his country, but this Moses seems not to leave his foot on the throttle any time soon.
Victor Moses inspired Nigeria to a third AFCON title nine years ago in South Africa and Moses Simon could do same in Cameroon now.
Interestingly, both players operate from the wings with power, technique and wholehearted commitment.
Preciously unsong under former Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, the FC Nantes exciting pint-sized “battle ship” has come to stay in this supremely mobile Augustine Eguavoen-led Eagles.
He has so far scored a goal and provided three assists in Cameroon.
New coach Eguavoen, nicknamed ‘Cerezo’, did the former KAA Gent winger a world of good when he brought back wing play, which Rohr had almost shown the door to and Moses grabbed the gift with both “feet” and the result is what the fans are savouring and wanting more.
Rohr’s Eagles criminally limited Moses as the former coach showed he lacked the tactical and technical sharpness to unleash smoking Moses as the defensive duties Rohr made him to combine with his wing duties reduced him to just another player on the squad.
Rohr’s Eagles only managed to pull through struggles even against less illustrious opponents until the Nigeria Football Federation decided they have had enough of him and grabbed ‘Cerezo’ on an interim basis.
Rohr’s suspect tactical approach meant Moses could do just little to help his team, but the arrival of ‘Cerezo’ changed all that and Moses is now singing a new song.
Sweet-song singing Moses has brought a brand new vigour to the Eagles attack through wings, reminding fans the glorious days of former stars like Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke.
The Pharaohs, the Biblical Moses’s tormentor, will never forget Moses for a long time, as Moses punished the defence line to no end, sent their right back to an early shower and initiated a ferocious attack that was brilliantly finished off by Kelechi Iheanacho.
Moses did this, did that when Sudan came under his attack and capped his incredible showing with the third goal in a comprehensive 3-1 spanking of the Falcons of Jediane to add to the political whirlwind sweeping through the troubled country.
Even when ‘Cerezo’ decided to rest him to give a chance to eight new players in their final group game against hard-fighting Guinea Bissau, Moses blasted from the bench and missed what would have been the best goal of the tournament by a whisker after a breathtaking mazy run that left the Guinea Bissau defence for dead.
It was captain William Troost-Ekong who helped him complete the demolition job for a sound 2-0 win to remain in Garoua for the second round fixture.
So, will this Moses lead his men to the Promised Land?
Eagles seek an elusive fourth AFCON title which narrowly eluded them last time out in Egypt as they returned home with a record eighth bronze medal.
The former AS Trencin of Slovakia winger isn’t looking like he’s taking a break yet as he’s agreed to take the huge responsibility of firing his country to sniff at a fourth AFCON title.
His licence to kill is still valid and he’s expected to break some more hearts in the coming games.
With Moses firing from the wings the Promised Land could be a foregone conclusion and come February 6 in Yaounde, Nigeria could be thrown into wild victory celebration.
But before then the Nantes winger, who is also interesting bigger spenders, should excite the fans with his energetic drives down the left flank.
