Should Moses Simon Have Spoken Out? Why His Rangers Ethnic Claim Has Sparked a Wider Debate

When Super Eagles stars like Moses Simon speak, the country listen.

That is why his recent claim that he was denied a professional contract by Enugu Rangers because he is not Igbo has generated far more than a football debate. It has reopened conversations about ethnicity, merit and responsibility at a time when Nigeria is already grappling with heightened ethnic tensions.

Simon, the current assistant captain of the Super Eagles, made the allegation during an interview with UrbanDwellSport, recalling his early days as a young player seeking a breakthrough.

“I went to Rangers and trained with them for three months. I was dropped because I was not Igbo, not because of my performance.

“I spent three months with the team, while another player trained just once and got a professional contract because he was Igbo. I never told anyone these stories. It was the first time. But it is a disgrace.”

The comments quickly spread across social media, with many users debating whether tribalism still exists in Nigerian football.

Rangers International responded swiftly.

In a statement titled “Rangers International Football Club’s Position on Ethnic Inclusion and Social Opportunity,” the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Amobi Ezeaku, firmly rejected the allegation.

The club stated that while it respects every player’s right to recount personal experiences, Rangers “has never maintained, and does not maintain, any policy of discrimination based on ethnicity, tribe, religion or place of origin.”

Rangers also defended its history, saying that although the club is proudly rooted in Enugu and the South-East, it has always belonged to Nigeria as a whole.

According to the club, player recruitment has always been based on football ability, character, discipline and commitment rather than ethnic identity. It added that thousands of players have passed through Rangers over the years, with some earning contracts and others missing out based on football decisions.

The club further stressed that its present administration remains committed to professionalism, meritocracy, diversity and equal opportunities for every talented player regardless of ethnic background, religion or geographical origin.

The truth about what happened during Simon’s trial many years ago may never be fully established. His experience is personal, while Rangers strongly insists that ethnicity has never formed part of its recruitment policy.

But beyond deciding who is right or wrong lies a bigger issue.

Simon is not just another former player looking back on his career. He is one of Nigeria’s biggest football stars, a senior figure in the Super Eagles dressing room and the team’s current assistant captain. His words carry enormous influence both inside and outside football.

That influence comes with responsibility.

Nigeria is currently facing heightened ethnic sensitivities, with public debates increasingly divided along tribal lines. In such an atmosphere, allegations involving ethnicity can quickly spread beyond football and fuel wider tensions.

This does not mean Simon should remain silent if he genuinely believes he was treated unfairly. Everyone has the right to tell their story. However, public figures also have a responsibility to recognise the possible consequences of sensitive statements, particularly when they involve ethnicity.

Had Simon raised the issue after retiring from football, the reaction might still have been significant. But as an active national team leader approaching 100 appearances for Nigeria, his comments naturally carry greater weight and influence.

Football has long been one of the few places where Nigerians from every ethnic group unite behind a common goal. If discrimination exists, it should be exposed and addressed. At the same time, accusations of this nature require care, context and responsibility so that they encourage accountability without deepening existing divisions.

The debate surrounding Simon’s comments is therefore about more than Rangers or one player’s experience. It is a reminder that in today’s Nigeria, influential voices must balance personal truth with the broader impact their words may have on a nation that still looks to football as a symbol of unity.