FC Nantes won’t release Moses Simon for Super Eagles AFCON qualifiers

French Ligue 1 club FC Nantes announced today they will not release Victor Moses for forthcoming AFCON qualifiers involving the Super Eagles due to the travel restrictions caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Nantes said in a press release their international call-ups Moses Simon (Nigeria) as well as Kalifa Coulibaly, Charles Traore (Mali) and Jean-Charles Caselletto (Cameroon) will not be allowed to leave France for the AFCON qualifiers later this month.

“Like several clubs in France, FC Nantes will not release its selected international players for matches outside of Europe during the next international break, scheduled for the end of March” , the press release said.

“In the absence of health guarantees in accordance with the requirements of the French government in force to date, FC Nantes will not be able to release its internationals outside the limits of the European area. 

“This decision, based on FIFA circular 1749 of February 5, is justified by the return protocol imposed on travelers who have traveled outside the European Union, who must in particular respect a seven-day isolation. 

“The players concerned would also be unable to take part in the match of the 31st day of Ligue 1 Uber Eats, scheduled for Sunday April 4, between FC Nantes and OGC Nice (3 p.m.).”

French clubs Brest and Dijon have also stopped their Benin internationals from the AFCON qualifiers.

Moses Simon last featured for Nigeria in friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia in Austria in October 2020.

Injury kept him out of the AFCON double-header against Sierra Leone in November 2020.