AFCON 2013: Super Eagles Player Profile – Victor Moses

By Arinze Ude This gifted winger cum striker was born on 12 December 1990 in Lagos but migrated to the United Kingdom after his parents were killed during the 2002 riots between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna. His parents (Mr Austine and Mrs Josephine Moses) were missionaries and amongst those targeted by the muslims during the “Sharia riot”. Moses was just 11 years old at the time of their deaths and was taken to London by his uncle where he joined the local Tandridge League until scouts from Crystal Palace approached him and he joined the London Club’s academy, with the club’s Selhurst Park stadium just a stone’s throw from his school. He made his debut for Crystal Palace on 6th November 2007. Fast forward the year to 2013 and he’s gone on to play for Wigan Athletic and Chelsea in the English Premier League. He represented England at U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels, scoring 11 goals during that time but has since switched his allegiance to Nigeria. He was selected in the squad to face Guatemala in 2011 but the friendly was cancelled at the last minute. He was selected again for games against Ethiopia and Kenya in 2011 but FIFA ruled him out of both ties because his application to switch nationalities wasn’t received in time by the world football governing body. He was finally cleared along with Shola Ameobi to play for Nigeria in November 2011 and made his debut in Nigeria’s 6-1 win over Liberia at Calabar to qualify for the 2013 African Cup of Nations. He virtually ensured Nigeria’s progression to the knock-out stages in the Nations Cup after winning and scoring two penalties against Ethiopia in the last group game to qualify for the Quarter-finals ahead of defending Champions, Zambia. With his dashing runs and dribbles, he’s left so many defenders for dead especially against Mali in the Semi final when he turned Mali left back, Tamboura inside out before putting in a cross for Elderson Echejile to score. He also released Emmanuel Emenike for Nigeria’s second goal in that match. He picked up an injury in the second half and was replaced by Ahmed Musa. He’s been one of the country’s best performers in South Africa and in spite of his injury woes in the semi-finals, Nigeria saw him firing on all cylinders, playing the full 90 minute needed to enable  his country lift their first Nations Cup title since the glory days of Rashidi Yekini et al in 1994.