Moses Usor has revealed his desire to follow in the footsteps of experienced Super Eagles winger Moses Simon after making a memorable start to his international career with Nigeria.
The 24-year-old LASK forward came off the bench to score the decisive goal as Nigeria defeated Madagascar 2-1 in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday.
Usor’s debut became even more significant because it coincided with a major milestone for his more experienced namesake. Moses Simon came on during the match to make his 100th appearance for Nigeria, becoming only the fifth Nigerian player to reach the century mark for the senior national team.
For Usor, sharing the pitch with Simon on such an important night provided an experience he hopes will inspire the next stage of his career.
“I want to be like Moses Simon, his consistency, his humility, his commitment to the team over so many seasons,” Usor told Footy-Africa, according to PUNCH.
The LASK forward also reflected on the unusual coincidence of sharing the same first name with a Nigerian international who has already established himself as one of the country’s most experienced players.
“It’s special to share the name Moses and go through this night with him. Getting to 100 caps for Nigeria is a massive achievement,” he said.
Usor’s contribution against Madagascar was particularly impressive because of the circumstances surrounding his introduction. Nigeria had fallen behind after Madagascar opened the scoring through Ehsan Kari, before George Ilenikhena restored parity.
With the game level, coach Éric Chelle introduced Usor in the 61st minute. The forward wasted little time making an impact, producing a powerful individual run before calmly finishing to give Nigeria a 2-1 lead.
The goal came only four minutes after his introduction, making his first appearance for the Super Eagles one to remember.
Speaking about the moment, Usor said he was motivated rather than nervous when he entered the game.
“I was not nervous, I was hungry. The team needed a moment, and I wanted to be the one to give it to them. I have waited for this chance my whole career, so I just told myself: this is your moment, take it,” he said.
The forward’s journey to the Super Eagles had already included an earlier setback. He was previously invited to Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 Unity Cup but could not honour the call-up because of injury. His second opportunity came when Chelle selected him for Nigeria’s opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
Usor responded almost immediately when his chance finally arrived.
Before joining the Super Eagles, the forward had also been enjoying an encouraging spell with LASK. He has scored three goals and provided five assists in 12 appearances this season, following a highly productive 2025/26 campaign in which he recorded 15 goals and 10 assists in 35 appearances.
Despite scoring the winning goal on his international debut, Usor insists he is not allowing the moment to change his mentality.
“Now it’s about work. One goal doesn’t make a career. I want to stay humble, keep learning from the senior players, and keep fighting for my shirt. I want Nigerians to know I’m here to give everything,” he added.
His comments underline the importance he places on learning from established players within the national team. Simon’s 100-cap milestone has provided a clear example of the consistency Usor wants to replicate as he begins his own journey with the Super Eagles.
Nigeria will now turn its attention to the second Group L qualifier against Guinea-Bissau in Bissau on Tuesday, September 29. Usor’s impressive introduction against Madagascar could put him in contention for another opportunity as Chelle looks to build on the opening victory.
For the young forward, however, the immediate priority appears clear: continue working, remain humble and learn from players such as Simon while establishing his own identity in the national team.
His debut may have lasted only a short period, but the impact was significant. Usor arrived on the international stage with a winning goal and has already made clear the kind of career he hopes to build with Nigeria.
