Following a tense 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their AFCON 2025 Group C opener, Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has dismissed concerns over the team’s narrow margin of victory, insisting that Nigeria remains unfazed by the rising stakes of the tournament.
Despite a spirited second-half fightback from the Taifa Stars, Nigeria secured the maximum three points through goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman. While the performance sparked debate among fans regarding the team’s clinical edge, Simon maintained a pragmatic stance during the post-match press conference.
The Breakthrough: Semi Ajayi opened the scoring in the 36th minute, converting a precise cross from Alex Iwobi.
The Equalizer: Tanzania’s Charles M’Mombwa stunned the favorites shortly after the interval, momentarily leveling the score.
The Clincher: Two minutes later, Lookman restored the lead, again assisted by a dominant Iwobi, to seal the win.
Addressing the media, Simon emphasized that in tournament football, the scoreboard outweighs the aesthetics. “When you win, you always say ‘Great,'” Simon noted. “The most important thing is the three points. Football is not that easy; not every team at AFCON will be easy to beat.”
The Nantes winger also took the opportunity to address the psychological weight of representing a football-obsessed nation. Rather than viewing the narrow win as a sign of vulnerability, Simon framed it as a testament to the team’s resilience.
“We are used to handling the pressure; it is our job,” Simon stated firmly. “I believe nobody is scared because we believe we can score more goals”.
Nigeria’s focus now shifts to a high-stakes encounter with Tunisia. With the Super Eagles aiming to consolidate their position at the top of Group C, Simon warned that the intensity will only increase. “The game against Tunisia is not going to be easy. Everyone wants to win, and we want to be there.”
