Nigeria Forward Dismisses 2019 Semi-Final Ghosts – Focus on Winning in Marrakech Showdown.

Moses Simon

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has made it clear: Nigeria’s mindset heading into Saturday’s AFCON 2025 quarter-final against Algeria is purely about securing a win — not settling old scores from the painful 2019 semi-final defeat.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Marrakech on Friday, the 30-year-old Paris FC attacker addressed the 2-1 loss in Egypt six years ago, when Riyad Mahrez’s stoppage-time free-kick knocked Nigeria out of the final race. Simon, one of eight current squad members who experienced that heartbreak, quickly moved past it.

“That (2-1 defeat against Algeria in 2019 AFCON) is in the past,” Simon said firmly. “We want to win tomorrow (Saturday), not just trying to win, and we hope we can do so.”

Simon also rejected any notion that North African sides present unique challenges to Nigeria, pointing to recent results as proof of the Eagles’ strength.

“I cannot tell you the North African teams are teams that are giving us trouble because we, too, are a team that gives them trouble,” he explained. “I think… we beat the Tunisian team. Of course, the Tunisian team is one of the best in Africa. So it is not the time to talk about teams or not teams, every team is really good in this competition.”

The winger’s perspective carries extra weight: he was also part of the Nigeria side that denied Algeria qualification to the 2018 World Cup, underscoring the deep rivalry between the two nations.

“We don’t have anything about revenge in our mindset. We just want to play. We are a team that works every day to progress and to win due to the mentality,” Simon added.

Simon reserved special praise for the lethal attacking partnership of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, calling it the best in the tournament so far.

“Yes, we play for them; they’re the two best players in the African continent at different times in 2023 and 2024,” he said. “There is no time for who is the best or not the best. We are the best as a team, and we just want to win.”

Both teams enter the Grand Stade de Marrakech clash in top form: Nigeria have won all four matches, scoring 12 goals, while Algeria have also won their four games, conceding just once. Saturday’s 5pm kick-off will see one of these unbeaten runs come to an end, with a semi-final spot on the line.

With Simon’s experience, the team’s unity, and the firepower of Osimhen and Lookman, the Super Eagles are confident they can overcome Algeria and keep their title dream alive.