Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has revealed the pact the team’s coach, Austen Eguavoen, has with him.
He says he does not hinder him at all, adding that he always wants him to ‘do his thing’.
As a result, Simon adds, he himself is not surprised at the progress he is making at AFCON.
“I am not surprised at all about my performance because I actually came prepared for the tournament and this is something I am used to doing in my club.
“Also, with the former coach I played as a wing back and sometimes, left back and of course I am grateful for that because he gave me the opportunity to show myself and he believed in me.
“But with this present coach, he gave me the freedom of attacking and said you just go and do your thing and defend less,” he notes.
He, however, concedes that their Round of 16 opponents, Tunisia, will be a good test for the team.
The Super Eagles will file out against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 encounter at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua.
Simon says the team has put their past victories behind and is now looking forward to the battle against Tunisia.
“Things are looking good and I think it will be a good one for us playing a good Tunisian side.
“Our campaign so far in the tourney has been great, especially with the three victories and nine points.
“However, that is all behind us now and we look forward to our next challenge against another very strong side in Tunisia,” he adds.
On his superlative performance at the AFCON so far, the Nantes of France winger explains the change of play introduced by the new coach had impacted positively on his game.
NAN also reports that Friday’s training saw all 27 players participating and taking part in a routine light jogging and stretches.
The players were then split into two groups in the final one hour of the training as they worked on short passes, ball control as well as some tactical play.
The first group comprised of Captain Ahmed Musa, Simon, Henry Onyekweru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Peter Olayinka and Samuel Chukwueze.
Alex Iwobi, Sadiq Umar, Joe Aribo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Nwakali and Frank Onyeka made up the second group.
While the third group had assistant team captain William Troost-Ekong, Tyrone Ebuehi, Zaidu Sanusi, Kenneth Omeruo, Olisa Ndah, Olaoluwa Aina, Jamilu Collins, Chidozie Awaziem and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi.
Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen supervised the session along with assistant coaches Salisu Yusuf, Paul Aigbogun, Joseph Yobo, Terry Eguaoje and Aloysius Agu, the Goalkeeper trainer, who drilled the quartet of Maduka Okoye, Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho and John Noble.
