Moses Simon has reached 100 appearances for Nigeria’s senior national team after featuring in the Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Madagascar in the opening match of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Simon came off the bench during the second half at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 25, 2026, bringing his total number of senior international appearances to 100.
The Paris FC winger became only the fifth Nigerian footballer to reach the century mark for the Super Eagles.
Simon joins Nigeria’s 100-cap club
Simon joins Ahmed Musa, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Alex Iwobi in Nigeria’s 100-appearance club.
Musa remains Nigeria’s record appearance holder, while Enyeama, Yobo and Iwobi have also passed the 100-cap mark.
The achievement marks another milestone in Simon’s international career, which began more than 11 years ago.
Before the Madagascar match, the Nigeria Football Federation had recorded Simon on 99 appearances and 12 international goals.
From Uganda debut to 100 appearances
Simon made his senior international debut for Nigeria on March 25, 2015, against Uganda.
He entered the match as a substitute for Anthony Ujah and began what has become a long-running career with the national team.
More than a decade later, his appearance against Madagascar completed his century of senior international matches.
According to figures attributed to the NFF, Simon’s first 99 appearances consisted of 64 competitive matches and 35 international friendlies. He had also played in 23 Africa Cup of Nations finals matches and 22 World Cup qualifying matches.
A milestone during a comeback victory
Simon reached the landmark during a match in which Nigeria had to recover from an early deficit.
Madagascar took the lead in the 16th minute through Ehsan Kari, but Nigeria equalised through debutant George Ilenikhena in first-half stoppage time.
Another debutant, Moses Usor, then scored the winning goal as Nigeria completed a 2-1 comeback.
Simon entered the match during the second half, allowing him to register his 100th appearance as Nigeria secured three points in its opening Group L fixture.
Simon reflects on the achievement
After the match, Simon described reaching 100 appearances as a dream come true.
He thanked the coaches who had given him opportunities to represent Nigeria and said he intended to continue giving his best whenever he received another national-team call-up.
The milestone was subsequently marked with a presentation of a framed Nigeria shirt carrying his name and the number 100.
Simon also credited his family, friends, Nigerian supporters and journalists when discussing the factors behind his longevity with the national team.
A career spanning several tournaments
Simon has represented Nigeria across multiple generations of the Super Eagles.
He was involved in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaigns and World Cup qualifying campaigns, although he has not appeared at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament.
He was initially included in Nigeria’s plans for the 2018 World Cup but missed the final squad because of injury.
He has subsequently represented Nigeria at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, according to reporting following his 100th appearance.
His international career has also continued through several changes in the national team’s coaching setup.
Fifth Nigerian to reach the milestone
Reaching 100 appearances places Simon alongside a small group of players who have reached the same official milestone for Nigeria.
The list includes former captain Ahmed Musa, former goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, former captain Joseph Yobo and current international Alex Iwobi.
The exact appearance totals for players can vary between historical statistical databases because of differences in how certain international matches are classified. For this article, the 100-cap milestone follows the Nigeria Football Federation’s reported figures for Simon.
Attention turns back to AFCON qualifying
Simon reached the milestone at the start of another competitive campaign for Nigeria.
The Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Madagascar gave them three points in Group L, with Nigeria’s next scheduled qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau on September 29, 2026.
For Simon, the Guinea-Bissau fixture will be the beginning of the next stage of his international career after reaching the 100-appearance mark.
As of September 27, 2026, Simon’s century has made him the fifth Nigerian player officially recorded to have reached 100 senior appearances for the Super Eagles, adding a significant statistical milestone to an international career that began with his debut against Uganda in 2015.
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