Super Eagles winger Moses Simon was the star of the show, firing home a penalty and setting up another goal to inspire Nantes to a crucial 3-0 triumph over Montpellier — a result that sealed their Ligue 1 safety in emphatic fashion.
With just 33 points from 33 matches, Nantes came into the clash in a risky position, knowing that anything less than a win could have dragged them into the dreaded relegation qualification spot.
However, Moses Simon proved unstoppable on the night, calmly converting a penalty in the 18th minute to break the deadlock before Francis Coquelin added a second in the 31st minute, sparking jubilant celebrations from the home crowd.
Matthis Abline sealed the emphatic victory and confirmed Nantes’ top-flight survival in the 79th minute, finishing off Moses Simon’s assist before the Nigerian winger was substituted in the 87th minute to a well-deserved standing ovation from the fans.
Prior to kickoff, Nantes paid tribute to Moses Simon for reaching a milestone 200 appearances for the club, a feat he achieved in their previous league match against Auxerre.
With eight goals and 10 assists, the Nigerian winger has enjoyed his most productive Ligue 1 campaign to date.
He finishes the season as Nantes’ second-highest goalscorer and is tied for the second-most assists in the league, trailing only Rayan Cherki and Gaëtan Perrin, who both registered 11 assists.
With his 10th assist of the season, the 29-year-old became the first Nigerian player on record to reach double figures in assists in a regular season of any of Europe’s top-five leagues.
After spending six years at Nantes, Moses Simon is widely expected to leave the club this summer, with several teams across Europe keeping a close eye on his situation and preparing potential bids ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
