Antoine Kombouaré will be without one of his key attacking threats for the rest of the season after Moses Simon (28) was injured in Nigeria’s friendly against Mali.
Ouest France reports that the FC Nantes winger will be ruled out for the rest of the season after a bad collision with Mali goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa (34) left the attacker unable to continue past the 34th minute in Nigeria’s 2-0 loss.
The pictures of Simon being carried off on a stretcher were not promising, and the early fears were confirmed after he was transported to a local hospital where the initial diagnosis pointed towards a fractured fibula. A second assessment will be scheduled, but it appears as if the season is over for Simon.
Simon blow an unfortunate start for Kombouaré’s return to Nantes
This leaves returning manager Kombouaré in an awkward position ahead of his first game back in charge of La Maison Jaune against OGC Nice on Sunday with the club currently occupying the relegation playoff spot.
He had been appointed ahead of the international break with the task of rescuing Nantes from a looming relegation battle. Simon would have been a vital part of his plans. The forward has been one of the club’s most threatening options in attack having scored three and assisted five in the league.
