Ahmed Musa Announces Retirement from Super Eagles After Nearly 15 Years

Ahmed Musa has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a distinguished Nigeria’s senior men’s national team career that spanned almost 15 years.

The former Nigeria captain confirmed his decision in an emotional statement shared on social media, where he expressed deep appreciation to Nigerians for their unwavering support throughout his time with the national team.

“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.

Musa’s journey with the national team began at a remarkably young age, as he earned simultaneous call-ups to Nigeria’s U-20, U-23 and senior teams while still a teenager. Reflecting on those early days, he highlighted his pride and commitment in representing the country at every level.

“I was very young when I got my first opportunity, but wearing the green and white was always an honour. Every call-up meant everything to me, and I always gave my best whenever I stepped onto the pitch,” he added.

During his international career, Musa became one of Nigeria’s most recognisable football figures, earning over 100 caps and featuring in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and FIFA World Cups. He played a key role in Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON triumph in South Africa and remains the country’s joint all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup.

As captain, Musa was widely praised for his leadership, professionalism and influence on younger players within the squad, especially during periods of transition for the Super Eagles.

He concluded his statement by thanking teammates, coaches, officials and fans for their support, while wishing the national team success in the future.

“I will always be a Super Eagles fan. I wish the team nothing but success, and I believe Nigeria will continue to rise on the world stage,” Musa said.

Musa’s retirement marks the end of an era for the Super Eagles, closing the chapter on one of the most enduring and impactful international careers in Nigerian football history.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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