Soccer
Nigeria winger Moses Simon is on the verge of writing his name into FC Nantes history books, Soccernet.ng reports.
According to MediaSportif, Super Eagles forward Simon is closing in on becoming the Canaries club’s most prolific penalty taker in over three decades.
Simon’s flawless form from the spot has seen him convert six consecutive Ligue 1 penalties since 2020 — a record unmatched by any Nantes player in the top flight since Nicolas Ouédec’s run between 1991 and 1996.
Simon’s excellent streak places him ahead of recent Nantes specialists like Imran Louza and Ludovic Blas, who both missed penalties after scoring five and six in a row, respectively.
If Simon scores one more spot-kick without missing, he will surpass the records of both Filip Djordjevic and Ludovic Blas to become Nantes’ most reliable penalty taker in the 21st century.
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The 28-year-old maintained his perfect streak by slotting home a crucial penalty in Nantes’ 3-1 victory over Lens at the weekend — his third successful spot-kick of the season. The victory helped lift the Canaries one place up the Ligue 1 table to 14th position, boosting their fight against relegation.
Simon’s performance earned him a place in the WhoScored.com Ligue 1 Team of the Week, even as Antoine Kombouaré’s side battles to avoid relegation this season.
Moses Simon: Nantes’ silent marksman
Nigerian international Moses Simon has been one of Nantes’ standout performers this season, contributing six goals and seven assists in 21 league appearances.
His calmness from 12 yards has added another dimension to his game, with his perfect penalty record making him one of the most reliable takers in Ligue 1.
Only OGC Nice’s Gaëtan Laborde (4/4) and Le Havre’s Abdoulaye Touré (3/3) have matched Simon’s 100% penalty conversion rate in the league this season.
Simon’s latest display came despite passing a late fitness test following an injury scare in training. The former Levante man showed no signs of discomfort, leading Nantes’ attack with a goal and an assist.
His penalty doubled Nantes’ advantage after Louis Leroux opened the scoring, before Lens threatened a comeback through Florian Sotoca’s strike. However, Mostafa Mohamed sealed the win with a late goal to give the Canaries only their third home win of the season.
With 24 points from 23 matches, Nantes’ survival hopes rest heavily on Simon’s form — and if his penalty streak continues, the Nigerian could cement his place as one of the club’s greatest-ever spot-kick specialists.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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