Victor Moses - England loss, Nigeria gain

by Samm Audu

Wednesday Oct 09, 2013. 16:34

Victor Moses has proved within two short years that he has been
worth all the trouble and the long wait by Nigeria.



It took several months before the England-based winger would
finally be cleared by FIFA to feature for Nigeria after he had represented
England at various age-group levels.



The 22-year-old Victor Moses has most certainly become Nigeria’s
gain and England loss.



He has been a
massive and much-needed addition to the Super Eagles since his debut in Rwanda
two years ago.


  

Moses loving it at Liverpool


Since the exit
of Emmanuel Amuneke, Finidi George and Tijjani Babangida from the Eagles,
Nigeria have found it difficult to get a top-class winger until Moses came
along. 
  
Moses’
versatility upfront, goals, assists and aerial prowess have made him a key
player and he completed his emergence as a genuine international star when he
played a big role for Nigeria to win a third Africa Cup of Nations in South
Africa in February. 
  
His two
penalty goals against Ethiopia in a final group game revived the Eagles at the AFCON
2013 as he went on to show class in the subsequent games against Cote d’Ivoire,
Mali and Burkina Faso. 
  
Tijjani
Babangida told AfricanFootball.com Moses has added value to Nigeria and will always
play a pivotal role in the team. 
  
"He is a
very good player and playing for the Eagles is a victory for Nigeria. He is a
very good striker with skills, pace and a good vision. He has a lion heart and
will always be there to lift Nigeria,” remarked Babangida. 


Victor Moses talks up victory   


“We all saw
what he did at the AFCON and in most of the other games he has played for
Nigeria."


  
"Moses is
a great player with bright future, he is the kind of player every team needs
and I am very happy as a Nigerian that we did not lose him to England,” added
ex-international Benedict Akwuegbu. 
  
“He has all
the attributes of a great player and to know he is still learning means he will
be great for Nigeria for a very long time." 
  
Moses was first
selected to play for Nigeria against Guatemala in
February 2011 by former Eagles coach Samson Siasia, but the friendly match was later
cancelled. 
  
He accepted another
call-up in March 2011 for Nigeria's games against Ethiopia and Kenya, but he was ruled out of those games because his application to
FIFA to switch nationalities was sent late. 
  
But finally on
November 1, 2011, FIFA cleared him along with Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi to
play for Nigeria at full international level.  
  
Since his debut in Kigali as a late substitute, he has scored five
goals in 14 matches for Nigeria. 
  
Before then, Moses,
who sought asylum in the United Kingdom after his parents were killed in
religious riot in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, had represented England at U16, U17
and U19 levels. 
  
As an U16
England international, Moses initially he won the Victory
Shield in 2005 and as U17 player, he played 2007 UEFA European  U17
Championship in Belgium, scoring three goals to help England reach
final only to lose to Spain by a lone goal and emerged as top scorer at the
event. 

He missed
Korea 2007 U17 World Cup due to injury after helping England to reach the
competition as the top scorer in the qualifiers.



He went with
the U19s to the 2008 UEFA European U19
Championship in the Czech
Republic, playing two matches and picking up one assist.



 



PROFILE



Born:  12th
December, 1990 

Position:
Forward



Height:  1.77m



Previous
clubs:  Crystal Palace, Wigan Athletic 

Present
club: On loan to Liverpool from Chelsea  

Honours: 
UEFA Europa League winner 2012/2013; AFCON winner 2013, Fair Play Award AFCON
2013.



 


Moses Eagles goals 

13th October, 2012  AFCON 2013 qualifier:
Nigeria 6 Liberia 1 (2 goals)



 29th January, 2013 AFCON 2013 : Ethiopia 0 Nigeria 2 (2 goals, pens)



7th September, 2013 World Cup qualifier: Nigeria 2 Malawi 0 (1 goal,pen)