Nigeria debut scorer Usor says he wants to emulate Simon
Moses Usor says Moses Simon’s consistency, humility and commitment are qualities he hopes to match after scoring the winner on his Nigeria debut. The LASK forward came off the bench to complete a 2-1 comeback against Madagascar and could challenge for a starting place against Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria forward Moses Usor says he wants to emulate the consistency, humility and commitment of senior international Moses Simon as he begins his Super Eagles career. Usor made his Nigeria debut last Friday and scored the winning goal in a 2-1 comeback against Madagascar in the opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in Uyo. The 24-year-old LASK forward entered the match as a substitute and needed 14 minutes to complete the comeback.
George Ilenikhena had earlier levelled the score after Madagascar’s Ehsan Kari opened the scoring. The match also marked a milestone for Simon, who became the fifth Nigerian to reach 100 senior international appearances when he came on. Usor said sharing the occasion with a player he admired was an added source of inspiration.
“I want to be like Moses Simon, his consistency, his humility, his commitment to the team over so many seasons,” Usor told Footy-Africa. He said reaching 100 caps was a major achievement and added that one goal could not define a career. Usor said he intended to remain humble, learn from senior players and compete for his place in the team.
The forward had previously been invited to Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 Unity Cup but could not attend because of injury. His next opportunity came with the squad for the opening two AFCON qualifiers, and he made an immediate impact against Madagascar. Nigeria are due to face Guinea-Bissau in their second Group L qualifier on Tuesday.
Usor’s performance has put him in contention for a starting role as the Super Eagles seek a second successive victory, although the source material does not indicate whether he will be selected.
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