By Nworisa Michael
Former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has officially retired from international football, bringing an end to a distinguished career with Nigeria’s national team that spanned over a decade and included major continental and global milestones.
Musa announced his decision on Wednesday, describing his time with the Super Eagles as a journey filled with pride, service and commitment to the country. He reflected on rising from a teenage debutant to becoming the most capped player in the history of the Nigerian national team.
The 33-year-old winger made his Super Eagles debut at the age of 17 and went on to earn 111 international caps, a national record. During his career, he played a key role in Nigeria’s triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and remains the country’s highest goal scorer at the FIFA World Cup, with four goals to his name.
Musa scored twice against Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and repeated the feat at the 2018 tournament in Russia, where his brace against Iceland helped secure a crucial group-stage victory for Nigeria. He also served as captain of the national team and was widely regarded for his leadership on and off the pitch.
At club level, Musa began his professional career with Kano Pillars before moving to Europe, where he featured for CSKA Moscow in Russia, VVV Venlo in the Netherlands and Turkish clubs including Karagümrük and Sivasspor. He also played in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, contributing to the club’s league title success.
In September 2024, Musa returned to Kano Pillars as a player and was later appointed the club’s general manager, further cementing his legacy with the club where his football journey began.
His retirement from international football comes weeks after fellow Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong also stepped away from national team duty. Musa’s final involvement with the Super Eagles was at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was part of the squad that finished as runners-up but did not feature in any match.
Ahmed Musa leaves the international stage as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished footballers, remembered for his longevity, leadership and decisive performances on the biggest stages of African and world football.