Super Eagles forward, Victor Moses was only 11 years old when both of his parents, his dad, Austin, a pastor, and mother, Josephine, were killed in a riot in Kaduna State in 2001.
Religious riots between the Muslim majority and Christian minority had divided Nigeria, and Moses' father, who had his own church, was a target.
Moses was hidden by his uncle for a week after the murder before he was flown to England for his own safety to seek asylum.
He arrived in South London and knew no one and was placed with foster parents.
Moses' youth team ID. He was 13 at this time.
Moses defied the odds as an orphan, going on to become one of the national team's most important players and a constant feature in Chelsea Football Club. Many children who have been victims of such devastating circumstances have not been so lucky.
Since the time the player lost his parents to the cold hands of death, about 17 years ago, religious and tribal riots continue to taint the giant of Africa status Nigeria likes to pride herself on.
As he chased dreams of going far with the Super Eagles in the ongoing Russia 2018 World Cup, thousands of other children suffered the same fate as he did- and worse. No fewer than 100 innocent persons - young, old, men, women, children - were gruesomely butchered in their sleep in Plateau State.
A distressed parent at the site of a Plateau killing.
The attacks, various reports say, were as a result of ceaseless farmers and herdsmen clash. President Buhari has repeatedly said these clashes have been going on for years, long before he democratically assumed the position as the number one citizen in the country.
But what remains the fate of families of victims and those with nowhere to run to? Security forces in the country are yet to provide assuring answers to wanton killings.
Buhari has only condemned the killings in statements and embarked on condolence visits to affected communities, even though he has dismissed public notions that he was seemingly silent on the herdsmen's atrocities because he "looks like one of them" as being an injustice on his person.
The killings need to stop, the government needs to provide a lasting solution and stop compounding the woes of already disadvantaged citizens.
As it was with Victor Moses, the Nigerian dream shouldn't be made more difficult for children by allowing mindless killings of their parents to continue unchecked. Unfortunately, not many of them will be fortunate enough get to escape to greener pastures as he did.
So tonight Super Eagles of Nigeria beat Poland to 1 - Nil, after previously beating Argentina. All thanks to Victor Moses 61mins penalty shoot out which he skillfully side netted the ball without stress. As they go up in the group, Serbia is up next.
We use this medium to say Congratulations to Super Eagles
Nigeria stars Victor Moses and William Troost-Ekong have been included in a 30-man shortlist for the African Player of the Year award for 2017.
The nominations for the awards, which will now be sponsored by Nigerian energy company Aiteo Group, were announced on Wednesday on the official website of the Confederation of African Football.
Both players helped the Super Eagles qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup with a game to spare despite their team being drawn in the toughest African qualifying group with Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.
Moses also won the 2016/2017 English Premier League title with Chelsea after playing a key role, while centre-back Troost-Ekong has started the new season in fine form with Turkish club Bursaspor.
Other nominees for the award include Senegal and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, current African Player of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund, and Eric Bailly of Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester United.
CAF also named 30 nominees for the African Player of the Year Based In Africa prize with Nigerian forward Junior Ajayi, who has been an important player for CAF Champions League finalists Al Alhy of Egypt included.
CAF announced that the winners will be decided by votes from the head coaches/Technical Directors of African FAs, members of the CAF Technical and Development Committee and a panel of media experts.
The Awards Gala will be held on Thursday, 4 January 2018 in Accra, Ghana.
NOMINEES
African Player of the Year
1. Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly)
2. Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso & Lyon)
3. Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo & Villareal)
4. Christian Atsu (Ghana & Newcastle)
5. Christian Bassogog (Cameroon & Henan Jianye)
6. Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
7. Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United)
8. Essam El Hadary (Egypt & Al Taawoun)
9. Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon & Sevilla)
10. Fackson Kapumbu (Zambia & Zesco)
11. Jean Michel Seri (Cote d’Ivoire & Nice)
12. Junior Kabananga (DR Congo & Astana)
13. Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco & Feyenoord)
14. Keita Balde (Senegal & Monaco)
15. Khalid Boutaib (Morocco & Yeni Malatyaspor)
16. Mbwana Samata (Tanzania & Genk)
17. Michael Olunga (Kenya & Girona)
18. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
19. Moussa Marega (Mali & Porto)
20. Naby Keita (Guinea & RB Leipzig)
21. Percy Tau (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
22. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)
23. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
24. Thomas Partey (Ghana & Atletico Madrid)
25. Victor Moses (Nigeria & Chelsea)
26. Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon & Porto)
27. William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria & Bursaspor)
28. Yacine Brahimi (Algeria & Porto)
29. Youssef Msakni (Tunisia & Al Duhail)
30. Yves Bissouma (Mali & Lille)
African Player of the Year – Based in Africa
1. Achraf Bencharki (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
2. Ahmed Fathi (Egypt & Al Ahly)
3. Alkhaly Bangoura (Guinea & Etoile du Sahel)
4. Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly)
5. Aristide Bance (Burkina Faso & Al Masry)
6. Ayman Majid (Morocco & FUS Rabat)
7. Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
8. Ben Malango (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
9. Dean Furman (South Africa & Supersport United)
10. Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
11. Elsamani Saadeldin (Sudan & Al Merreikh)
12. Fackson Kapumbu (Zambia & Zesco)
13. Fawzi Chaouchi (Algeria & MC Alger)
14. Geoffrey Serunkuma (Uganda & KCCA)
15. Jeremy Brockie (New Zealand & Supersport)
16. Junior Ajayi (Nigeria & Al Ahly)
17. Karim Aouadhi (Tunisia & CS Sfaxien)
18. Mohamed Meftah (Algeria & USM Alger)
19. Mohamed Ounnajem (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
20. Muaid Ellafi (Libya & Ahly Tripoli)
21. Nasr Eldin Ahmed (Sudan & Hilal Obeid)
22. Oussama Darfalou (Algeria & USM Alger)
23. Percy Tau (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
24. Sabelo Ndzinisa (Swaziland & Mbabane Swallows)
25. Saber Khalifa (Tunisia & Club Africain)
26. Saladin Said (Ethiopia & Saint George)
27. Sylvain Gbohouo (Cote d’Ivoire & TP Mazembe)
28. Tady Etekiama (DR Congo & AS Vita)
29. Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)
30. Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek)
Super Eagles and Chelsea star Victor Moses alongside former Mountain of Fire Football Club striker, Stephen Odey and Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) goalscorer in the just-concluded season Anthony Okpotuamong have been named finalists for Footballer of the Year Award.
In the female category, Asisat Oshoala is up against Ebi Onome of the Super Falcons and Rasheedat Ajibade of the Falconets.
Akuh Purity is up against Kennedy Boboye and Sam Vincent for the Coach of the Year while Aruna Quadri, Ike Diogu and Evelyn Akhator make up the three finalists for Ball Sports of the Year
There were also nominees for Ball sports Personality of the year, Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Sports Governor of the Year and Team of the Year.
The Sports Governor of the Year Award will be determined between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom States.
Chairman of the Award Panel of the Nigerian Sports Award, Kweku Tandoh, said it was a delight that the award is moving a notch higher considering the attraction it was getting year in year out.
The award ceremony has been fixed for November 17 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island while voting for the nominees will end the same day.
Nigeria's leading scorer in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers Victor Moses, Mikel Obi and Odion Ighalo might be banned for next month's game at home against Zambia.
Super Eagles
Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, his former Chelsea team-mate, Victor Moses, and comebacking striker, Odion Ighalo, are at risk over a second booking in Yaounde, which could cause them to be banned for next month’s qualifying game at home against Zambia.
A second booking in the qualifiers will fetch a player a one-match suspension. Ighalo was the latest player to be booked in the qualifiers after he displayed a tribute to Jesus on his inside shirt after he scored the all-important opening goal against Cameroon yesterday.
Nigeria’s leading scorer in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Victor Moses, who posted another Man-of-the-match performance against Cameroon, as well as Mikel are also walking a tight rope after they were cautioned in previous qualifiers.
Moses was cautioned in the 3-1 win over Algeria in November, while Mikel’s name got into the referee’s bad books two minutes to the end of the 2-1 win against Zambia in Ndola, also last year.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told Chelsea wing back, Victor Moses, to be more committed to the national team or miss out on winning the African Footballer of the Year award.
Moses reported to the team’s camp ahead of the friendly against Senegal, but returned to the Premier League club, after claiming he was carrying a knock.
It is understood that coach Gernot Rohr was visibly angry with the player , who had previously pulled out of a World cup qualifying match.
In an interview with The Guardian, NFF President Amaju Pinnick, said:
“Moses needs to understand that with his current performance with Chelsea, he stands a chance of becoming the next African player of the year, especially if his club should win the EPL title.
“But he needs to play regularly for the national team to make such dream come true. To be honest, Moses is one of the best African players at the moment, but as I said, he needs the Super Eagles.”
Speaking further, Pinnick, who is expected to join the Super Eagles camp in London today, revealed he had a chat with Moses yesterday
“and during our conversation, Moses said that he actually wanted to play in the friendly against Senegal but for the injury. He is coming to see me tomorrow (today) when I arrive in London.”
Moses was expected to feature in the second friendly against Burkina Faso, which has now been called off.
According to reports from the England this morning, Super Eagles and Chelsea winger Victor Moses could be a doubt for Nigeria’s upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso at the Hive Stadium in London, England.
Moses limped off injured on Monday night as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Emirates FA Cup and a calf strain is the initial diagnosis of his ailment.
If that is confirmed by Chelsea medics when the Super Eagles star is further assessed in the coming hours, he could face up to three weeks on the sidelines.
Compared to last few seasons where injuries limited his appearances, Moses has been fortunate in the current campaign and has been available for selection in all the games.
Wolfsburg teen star Victor Osimhen is definitely out of the friendlies as he is still recovering from injury and has been replaced in the squad by Olanrewaju Kayode of Austria Vienna.
Victor Moses has today, Ist of March, 2017 signed a new contract with the Blues.
The 26-year-old has established himself as a regular in the side this season, playing an integral role in Chelsea’s pursuit of silverware under Antonio Conte.
Upon signing the two-year extension to his deal, which will now run until 2021, Moses said:
‘I feel very excited. I’m delighted to be here for another few years now and to sign a new deal. Now it’s time to concentrate on the team and keep working hard to make sure we win games and try to win the Premier League this season.
‘We’re having a great season, I’m enjoying my football and we have a good manager here that has given every single one of us confidence. I just want to keep on enjoying it and working hard for the team.’
Technical director Michael Emenalo added: ‘We are extremely pleased Victor has chosen to extend his contract with us. He is enjoying an excellent season and, under Antonio’s leadership, has proved to be an important member of the squad.
‘This new contract is testament to Victor’s hard work and dedication to succeed at Chelsea and we believe he will be a big part of our future success.’
A Nigerian international, Moses has produced incredible consistency in his performances, starting every Premier League game since 1 October when he was named in the line-up away at Hull City.
It was in that fixture that Conte switched to a 3-4-3 formation for the first time and Moses, deployed in an unfamiliar right wing-back role, impressed in a 2-0 victory. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, growing in stature with every game and thriving under Conte’s guidance.
The combination of his natural attacking instincts, and ability to defend intelligently when the opposition are in possession, ensure Moses is ideally suited to the way in which Conte wants his team to play.
He has become a valuable member of the side as well as a popular figure among supporters, scoring four goals so far this season, including a winner at home to Tottenham in November.
Moses arrived at Chelsea in 2012 from Wigan Athletic and enjoyed a solid first season at the club, helping us lift the Europa League trophy. After spending time out on loan, he caught Conte’s eye during pre-season due to his technique, physical strength and high energy levels, and the Italian made the decision to keep him at Stamford Bridge for the 2016/17 campaign.
In total, Moses has made 72 appearances for the Blues, 28 coming so far this season, scoring 14 goals.
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