Super Eagles winger Moses Simon delivered another standout performance for FC Nantes in their hard-fought 2-1 Ligue 1 victory against OGC Nice at the Allianz Riviera on Friday night. The Nigerian international provided the crucial assist for the opening goal, continuing a stellar season that has seen him emerge not only as Nantes’ most influential player but also one of the most effective attackers in the French top flight.
The match against Nice was a testament to Simon’s importance. In the 11th minute, he laid off a brilliant pass to set up Douglas Augusto for the opener. Although Ali Abdi equalised for Nice, Nantes responded quickly through Matthis Abline, who restored their lead in the 38th minute — a lead they held until the final whistle.
Beyond his assist, Moses Simon worked hard defensively, making a key clearance and showing his commitment to both attacking and tracking back. Although his pass accuracy in the game was around 50%, his overall contribution cannot be understated, especially when looking at his season-long statistics.
Simon Tops Ligue 1 for Assists
That assist against Nice was Simon’s ninth assist of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season, making him the current leader in the assist charts across the French top flight. In addition to his assists, Simon has scored seven goals, taking his total goal contributions to 16 — the highest at Nantes this season.
FC Nantes have scored 33 goals in Ligue 1 this campaign, and Moses Simon has been directly involved in 48.5% of them. That means nearly every other goal Nantes have scored this season has come through the influence of the Nigerian winger.
Career-Best Numbers for Moses Simon
By the numbers, this is arguably the best season of Moses Simon’s career since moving to Europe. The last time he scored seven goals in a single league campaign was during the 2013/14 season at AS Trenčín in Slovakia — his debut year in European football. Since then, his highest single-season goal tally for a club in league competition has been six.
In terms of creativity, Simon has also never reached the nine-assist mark in a single season before this one. These personal bests in both scoring and assisting reflect a player operating at the peak of his powers.
At 29, Moses Simon appears to be combining experience with physical sharpness, providing Nantes with leadership, goals, and assists in what has been a difficult campaign.
Why Simon Must Finish Strong
Nantes currently sit 13th in the Ligue 1 table, only six points above the relegation zone. To make matters worse, some of the teams below them, such as Lorient and Clermont Foot, have games in hand. With six fixtures left in the season, Nantes still have work to do to secure their Ligue 1 status.
Upcoming matches include difficult fixtures against Rennes, Paris Saint-Germain, and Toulouse, as well as more manageable clashes with Angers, Auxerre, and Montpellier. Given Simon’s form, Nantes will be heavily reliant on him to pull the strings, either by scoring or creating chances.
Should he continue at this level, not only could Simon help secure Nantes’ Ligue 1 status, but he could also enter double digits for both goals and assists — a remarkable feat for a winger playing in a struggling mid-table team.
Should Moses Simon Leave Nantes?
Having joined Nantes in 2019, Moses Simon is now in his fifth season at the club. During his time with Les Canaris, he has won the French Cup and become one of the most consistent African players in Ligue 1. However, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, and given his age, the summer of 2025 might be the right time to make a move.
Simon has previously been linked with Premier League clubs, and while interest seems to have cooled recently, a strong finish to the season could reignite talks. That said, with Simon set to turn 30 by the start of next season, top-tier clubs may hesitate to invest heavily in a player approaching his 30s.
Still, there’s growing interest from leagues in the Middle East and Turkey, and the Saudi Pro League in particular could offer him a lucrative contract while guaranteeing regular football. Nantes, given their financial constraints, might also be willing to cash in on him rather than lose him for free in 2026.
Conclusion
Whether Moses Simon stays at Nantes or moves on, one thing is clear — the 2024/25 season is shaping up to be the best of his career. His importance to the Super Eagles and Nantes cannot be overstated, and with the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, staying fit, in form, and regularly involved in matches will be crucial.
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For now, Moses Simon is proving himself to be one of the most effective wingers in Ligue 1 — a beacon of consistency in a turbulent season for Nantes.
