FC Nantes head coach Antoine Koumbouaré has praised the club’s decision to keep Nigerian winger Moses Simon, calling it one of their best moves ahead of the current season.
Simon, who has been a pivotal player for the Ligue 1 side, has recently scored in consecutive matches, helping Nantes secure crucial points early in the campaign.
Reflecting on the importance of retaining Simon, Koumbouaré stated, “It’s always good; remember my first arrival when we escaped through the playoff? My best recruitment was to keep Blas, Kolo Muani, and Moses Simon. We then had a great season, winning the Coupe de France.
I’m not saying we will do the same thing, but keeping the players involved. We’ve seen it from the beginning; they are happy to be at FC Nantes.”
Nantes secured their first win of the season on August 25, ending a nine-match home losing streak in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory over Auxerre at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
Simon played a crucial role, opening the scoring in the 14th minute with a powerful shot that slipped through the fingers of Auxerre’s goalkeeper, Donovan Léon. The goal sparked confidence in the team, leading to a second goal in stoppage time by Bahereba Guirassy.
Simon’s impact continued last weekend when he scored from the penalty spot in Nantes’ 3-1 win over Montpellier, marking his second goal of the season.
After a challenging 2023/24 season and a goalless draw against Toulouse in their opening match, Nantes fans might have feared another difficult year.
However, Koumbouaré’s decision to retain key players like Simon appears to be paying off, with the winger’s performances hinting at a promising season for the Canaries.
