Super Eagles and Paris FC winger Moses Simon has alleged that he was denied the opportunity to sign for Enugu Rangers early in his football career because he was not igbo.
Simon, who made the claim in an interview with UrbanDwellSport, revealed that he spent three months training with the Flying Antelopes and believed he had done enough to earn a professional contract.
According to the Paris FC forward, members of the coaching staff were impressed with his performances during the trial period, raising his hopes of joining one of Nigeria’s most successful clubs.
“I went to Rangers and trained with them for three months. I wasn’t signed but I was training with them. In fact, I was the captain of the ‘screening’ team.
“I’ve never told anyone this story, this is the first time, but it was a disgrace, I was dropped because I was not Igbo.
“I was there for three months and a guy came I have forgotten his name, he’s an Ibo guy, he just trained one week and they signed him, professional contract, they said because I was from the north or something.”
Despite the early setback in his career, Simon has gone on to feature for some decent clubs in Europe.
Also Read: Ex-Manchester United Star Fabio: Moses Simon A Perfect Teammate
On 13 January 2014, Simon signed a three-year contract with the Slovak side Trenčín and made his league debut in a 1–1 draw against MFK Košice.
He made his club international debut during the Trenčín’s 2014–15 UEFA Europa League campaign, when he was introduced during the second preliminary round of the competition, in the home match against Vojvodina Novi Sad from Serbia.
After featuring for Gent and Levante, he joined Nantes on loan in August 2019 before and at the end of the season, the French club triggered the option to make the move permanent.
During his time at Gent, Simon won the Belgian league title and Super Cup and at Nantes he won the French Cup.
With the Super Eagles, Simon has featured in four Africa Cup of Nations (2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025).
By James Agberebi
