Ahmed Musa quits international tootball, thanks Nigerians for support

Former Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing to an end an illustrious career that spanned nearly 15 years with Nigeria’s national team.

The 33-year-old forward made the announcement on Wednesday via a heartfelt post shared on his social media platforms, where he reflected on his long journey with the Super Eagles.

“After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles,” Musa wrote.

He described wearing the green and white jersey as the greatest honour of his career, recalling how his international journey began at a very young age.

“I was just a young boy when the journey started. I remember being invited at the same time to the U-20, U-23 and the Super Eagles. I was young, still learning, and always travelling, but I never complained. Whenever Nigeria called, I showed up,” he said.

Musa made his Super Eagles debut at the age of 17 and went on to earn 111 caps, becoming the most capped player in the history of Nigerian football — a milestone he described as a source of deep pride.

“Playing 111 matches for my country is something I hold with deep respect. Every time I wore the jersey, I understood the responsibility that came with it,” he added.

His international career was decorated with major achievements, including being part of the Super Eagles squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Musa also etched his name into World Cup history. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, he scored twice against Argentina, becoming the first Nigerian to score more than one goal at a World Cup. He repeated the feat four years later at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with another brace against Iceland, making him Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer at the tournament and the first Nigerian to score in two different World Cups.

The former Leicester City winger also served as Super Eagles captain before handing over the armband to William Troost-Ekong.

Beyond international football, Musa enjoyed a successful club career across Europe and the Middle East, featuring in the Netherlands, Russia, England and Saudi Arabia. In 2024, he returned to his boyhood club, Kano Pillars, for a third stint before being appointed the club’s General Manager at the start of the 2025/26 season.

As he bows out of international football, Musa leaves behind a legacy defined by loyalty, longevity, and historic achievements.

“Football gave me a career, and Nigeria gave me meaning,” he concluded.