Dubai: Orphaned at the age of 11 when his Christian pastor parents were tragically killed in a religious attack in his native Nigeria, Victor Moses was granted asylum in England and grew up there with foster parents.
It was here where he caught the attention of Crystal Palace in 2001, working his way up to play for the first team at Selhurst from 2007 to 2010, and coming through the England youth ranks from 2005.
However, at the same time as leaving his second club Wigan Athletic for Chelsea in 2012, he also opted to switch allegiances and returned to represent his native Nigeria at senior level.
Teaming up with the Super Eagles and fellow Nigerian Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel, he went on to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and reach the Last 16 of the 2014 World Cup, equalling the country’s best ever finish in the tournament, a benchmark also achieved in 1994 and 1998. In five World Cup outings, Nigeria have now reached the Last 16 three times.
His initial years at Chelsea as a right-winger were disrupted by loan spells out to Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United, but in the past two seasons he has become more integrated into the side as a right wing back under Antonio Conte with whom he won the Premier League title in 2016/17.
This season hasn’t been as glorious with Chelsea failing to finish inside the top four however, and if Conte leaves and the next coach who comes in doesn’t adopt the same five at the back system — which appears to have been found out now anyway — it remains to be seen what will happen with Moses.
This World Cup will be an opportunity for him to remind whoever coaches Chelsea next season of his capabilities pushing forward, as Nigeria utilise him more as an attacker.
If the next man in at Stamford Bridge can’t find space for him going forward however, Russia will be his chance to impress other suitors, possibly ending a six-year stay at Chelsea.
With so much doubt around he will need a good World Cup, and Nigeria’s chances of getting out of the group and bettering their Last 16 best finish are fair considering they have Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Group D before facing the winners or runners-up of Group C, which will be between France, Australia, Peru or Denmark.
