Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has shared his disappointment over Nigeria not qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He believes most players on the current team will not be around for the tournament in 2030.
The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Simon just turned 31 on Sunday. By the time the next World Cup comes, he will be 35 years old. He has never played in the tournament. He missed out on Nigeria's team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the Super Eagles also didn’t qualify for the 2022 and 2026 editions.
Other important players on the current squad, like captain Wilfred Ndidi (29), Alex Iwobi (30), and Victor Osimhen (27), will also be in their 30s when the 2030 World Cup happens.
In an interview with Urban Dwell Sport, Simon expressed that the disappointment of missing the World Cup is heavy for the players. He believes a new generation of players will be ready to step up.
"The players care about the World Cup more than anyone. They want to go to the World Cup. Even if they don’t make the team, they want their friends to go to the World Cup."
"Sorry to say, about 90 or 95 percent of the players in the current team, they’re watching. I don’t think they will play the next World Cup because the young players are coming up. Eric Chelle is building a new team, a strong team for the nation, which is really good for everyone."
"So possibly, in 2030, most of us will be supporters, supporting the mission."
Simon knows he might not get to play in a World Cup, but he remains hopeful that the younger players will carry Nigeria's dreams forward.
"My father didn’t dream of playing football, but I am playing. If I don’t play at the World Cup, my son will. If my son doesn’t, I have players in the academy who will."
One of the young talents who may reach that goal is defender Benjamin Frederick. He has shown great promise after performing well at the Unity Cup last year under Eric Chelle.
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