Ahmed Musa, Nigeria’s most featured international football player and one of the defining figures of a generation, has announced his retirement from international football, bringing to a close a Super Eagles career that spanned nearly 15 years.
“I wore this badge with pride for 15 years,” Musa wrote in an emotional farewell message. “From a 17-year-old boy answering every call to becoming the most capped Super Eagle with 111 appearances… Captain. Servant. Believer. I gave everything. Thank you Nigeria… my heart will always beat green.”
In a longer statement addressed to Nigerians and the Super Eagles family, Musa said the decision followed deep reflection, ending a journey that began when he was still a teenager. He recalled being invited simultaneously to the U-20, U-23 and senior national teams, a period marked by constant travel, learning and growth.
“Whenever Nigeria called, I showed up. It was never something I had to think twice about,” he said. “Football took me to many places around the world, but Nigeria was always home.”
‘Unforgettable goals’
Musa retires as the most capped player in Nigerian football history, having made a record 111 appearances for the Super Eagles and scoring 18 international goals. He is also Nigeria’s highest goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup with four goals, becoming the first Nigerian to score more than once in a single World Cup match and the first to score at two different tournaments, in 2014 and 2018.
Among the moments he said would “always stand out” was Nigeria’s triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament he described as a true reflection of what it meant to play for the country. His World Cup goals against Argentina in 2014 and Iceland in 2018 also remain etched in Nigerian football history.
“To score four goals at the World Cup and be Nigeria’s highest goalscorer on that stage is something I am truly grateful for,” Musa said. “Every time I wore the jersey, I understood the responsibility that came with it. Playing for Nigeria was always bigger than me.”
Musa also reflected on his time as captain of the Super Eagles, describing the role as one that taught him responsibility, patience and the importance of putting the team first.
Glowing tributes
Tributes poured in following the announcement. The Nigeria Football Federation led the reactions, saluting Musa’s longevity and achievements. “Thank you, Captain. 111 caps. AFCON Champion. World Cup history-maker. Ahmed Musa bows out a Super Eagle forever,” the federation wrote on X.
The National Sports Commission described his retirement as the end of a historic chapter. “Musa’s decision marks the end of one of the most illustrious chapters in Nigerian football history,” the commission said, while wishing him success in the next phase of his journey.
Current and former Super Eagles players also paid their respects. Defender Kenneth Omeruo wrote, “Mi Captain Ahmed Musa, thank you for your service sir,” while striker Sadiq Umar added, “No words but thank you.” Moses Simon described him simply as “skipo,” saying, “Thank you for everything.” Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and Eagles B forward Bernard Ovoke both hailed him as a “Legend.”
Musa’s retirement comes shortly after fellow Super Eagles leader William Troost-Ekong stepped away from international football earlier this month, further underlining a period of transition for the national team.
Kano Pillars, where Musa currently serves as general manager and continues to play, delivered a glowing tribute, describing him as a figure whose impact went far beyond statistics. The club praised his consistency, leadership and unwavering commitment to the green and white jersey, noting that his name is “forever etched in gold” in Nigerian football history.
“Beyond the numbers, Ahmed Musa stands tall as Nigeria’s all-time highest goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup,” the club said.
