Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has insisted Nigeria are not seeking revenge for their 2019 AFCON semi-final defeat to Algeria but are simply focused on winning Saturday’s quarter-final clash in Marrakech, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
“That (2-1 defeat against Algeria in 2019 AFCON) is in the past,” Simon said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.
“We want to win tomorrow (Saturday), not just trying to win, and we hope we can do so.”
Simon is one of eight players on the current Super Eagles squad who were in Egypt in 2019 when Algeria stopped Nigeria with a stoppage-time free-kick goal by Riyad Mahrez. The defeat denied the Eagles a place in the final, though they went on to claim the bronze medal.
The Paris FC winger dismissed suggestions that North African teams pose special problems for Nigeria, pointing to recent results as evidence of the Eagles’ ability to compete with the continent’s best.
“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 said.
“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 30-year-old was also part of the Super Eagles team that denied Algeria a 2018 World Cup ticket, making him uniquely placed to understand the rivalry between both 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,” he added.
Simon praised the partnership of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, describing it as the best in the tournament and a key reason for Nigeria’s success in Morocco.
“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 have won their first four matches in Morocco, with Nigeria scoring 12 goals and Algeria conceding just one. One team will lose this enviable winning run when they battle for the right to reach the semi-final on Saturday at 5pm.
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