Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has admitted that most members of Nigeria’s current squad are unlikely to still be part of the team when the World Cup returns in 2030. He made the admission in an interview Urban Dwell Sport
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Meanwhile, Simon, who turned 31 on Sunday, will be 35 by the time the tournament kicks off.
The Paris FC winger is yet to feature at football’s biggest stage. He missed Nigeria’s final squad for the 2018 edition in Russia through injury, and the Super Eagles have since failed to qualify for both the 2022 and 2026 tournaments.
As a result, several other senior figures face the same reality. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will be around 33 by 2030, Alex Iwobi will be 34, while Victor Osimhen will be about 31, making a significant squad overhaul likely before the next cycle begins.
Speaking further, Simon did not hold back on how thin the current squad’s chances of reaching 2030 really are.
“Sorry to say, about 90 or 95 per cent of the players in the current team, they’re watching. I don’t think they will play the next World Cup because the young players are coming up,” Simon told Urban Dwell Sport.
However, he was quick to frame the transition in a positive light, pointing to the work already going on under the current coaching setup.
“Eric Chelle is building a new team, a strong team for the nation, which is really good for everyone. So possibly, in 2030, most of us will be supporters, supporting the mission,” he added
Before that, Simon had also stressed that missing another World Cup remains painful for everyone in the Super Eagles camp.
“The players care about the World Cup more than anyone. They want to go to the World Cup. Even if they don’t make the team, they want their friends to go to the World Cup,” he said.
Still, he insisted the squad cannot dwell on the disappointment for too long, noting that preparations for the future must continue regardless of how the players feel. Simon’s comments confirm what many have feared since the Super Eagles missed a second straight World Cup.
Consequently, a generational shift now looks inevitable, with the current core of players unlikely to be around long enough to see Nigeria return to the tournament.
Despite the likelihood that he may never fulfil his own World Cup dream, Simon remains hopeful for the next generation, including players closer to home.
“My father didn’t dream of playing football, but I am playing. If I don’t play at the World Cup, my son will. If my son doesn’t, I have players in the academy who will,” he said
Attention now turns to 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers and the next World Cup qualifying series, where Chelle is expected to continue shaping a squad capable of ending Nigeria’s wait for a World Cup return. Meanwhile, Simon himself continues to add to his own Super Eagles legacy, with 98 international caps already banked and just two appearances away from Nigeria’s exclusive 100-cap club.
