Nigeria Players Abroad
Ahmed Musa reflects on early struggles moving to Europe
By Monsurah Olatunji
Kano Pillars forward Ahmed Musa has opened up about the emotional and physical struggles he faced when he first moved to Europe to kick-start his professional football career.
Musa, who made the move to Dutch club VVV-Venlo in the summer of 2010 after helping Kano Pillars win the Nigerian League title, revealed the challenges of adapting to the cold climate and being far from home.
At just 17 years old, Musa was overwhelmed by the harsh weather conditions and the mental strain of being away from his family and friends.
Despite these difficulties, the now 32-year-old persevered and went on to have a successful career across Europe with clubs like CSKA Moscow and Leicester City, in addition to playing in the Saudi Pro League.
He also became a key figure for the Super Eagles, earning over 100 caps and scoring 18 goals.
In an interview with Newstelegraph, Musa shared how the experience took a toll on him emotionally, recalling the nights when he would cry after training due to the freezing cold and cultural shock.
“It was a tough moment for me because when I went to VVV Venlo, it was too cold,” Musa recalled. “So whenever I finished training, I would start crying because my legs and hands were freezing. I cried every day at the time because of so much discomfort.”
Musa emphasized that the transition was hard, especially when he compared his new reality to the situation he left behind in Africa. However, he found the strength to push through, knowing that the sacrifices would ultimately help him provide for his family.
“It is not easy because when you remember where you are coming from, the kind of situation in Africa, you just have to sacrifice and do a lot of things,” Musa explained. “So, I had to adapt, put everything aside, and then say this is a starting point for me to make my family proud and have something to feed them.”
