Nigerians fondly remember Victor Moses for his contributions in the Super Eagles success that sent the whole country into wild celebration in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final.
But the story of Victor Moses' parents and the pain it caused the young man is one that touched many hearts and we are going to delve into it before we talk about his tribe and where he comes from.
The tragic story of Victor Moses' parents
His beloved parents were brutally killed during religious riots in Kaduna. Their home was burned down with his parents in it. Victor wasn't at home at the time and this was what saved his life, he was out playing football with other kids at the time.
You might say that God made sure he was saved because he had a mission on earth to fulfill, and I can't argue with you about this.
Immediately after the incident, his uncle picked the then 11-year-old Victor to seek asylum in England. Fortunately, the English people with open arms accepted them.
Moses was placed with a foster family in south London. It was hard for the boy to leave his home and go to another country but it turned out to be the best thing for him.
In London, Victor began to play soccer in the local Tandridge League for Cosmos 90 FC to distract himself from the tragic trauma.
At one point, Crystal Palace approached him and offered him a place at the Eagles' Academy. They also agreed to pay for Moses' education in Croydon.
The rest is history as Moses went on to become a professional footballer who has played for a host of clubs, represented Nigeria internationally, and won trophies with both clubs and country.
What the story of Victor Moses teaches us
Bottom line is that Moses is proud to be a Nigerian and does not deny this fact. The star football player is a great example of starting from the bottom, dealing with tragedy and the setbacks of life, facing them head-on, and making it all the way to the top.
His story is one that has an element of forgiveness and patriotism as there are some who could have decided not to represent Nigeria, but he chose to, and in return brought joy and happiness to many Nigerian hearts.
Victor Moses tribe
Victor Moses was born in Lagos, Nigeria on 12 December 1990 to a Christian pastor and wife. However, he grew up in Kaduna State with his missionary parents who at the time were serving in the state.
By State of origin, Victor Moses is from Edo State and he hails from the Benin tribe, the largest tribe in all of Edo State.
Interestingly, the current face of Nigeria's Super Eagles, Victor Osimhen, also comes from the same state as Victor Moses.
Just like his fellow tribesman, Victor Osimhen will be looking towards winning the Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria too and bring celebration to the country a decade after the Super Eagles last tasted success in the continent.
Is Victor Moses still playing football?
Victor Moses is very much an active footballer but he has retired from international football.
Moses is a current player for Spartak Moscow in Russia's top-flight league.
He signed a two-year contract with the club on 10 February 2022 before extending his contract with Spartak to 2024.
Moses won the 2021/22 Russian Cup with his club on 29 May in a 2-1 derby victory over Dynamo Moscow.
On 23 July 2023, Moses scored the opening goal of Spartak's season in the 45th minute, with the home match against FC Orenburg ultimately finishing 3-2.
So far, he has netted 7 goals in 48 appearances for Spartak Moscow.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
