By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigeria’s national team captain, Ahmed Musa, has spoken out for the first time since his return to the Super Eagles squad following the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
Musa expressed the importance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, stating that it would be a disaster for Nigeria to miss out on the global tournament.
The Super Eagles currently sit in fifth place in Group C and will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda later this month in crucial qualifiers. Musa urged Nigerians to rally behind the team, stressing that their support is essential for success.
At the Taiwo Awoniyi Sports Media Center/SWAN Secretariat in Ilorin, the former Leicester City forward reiterated the significance of the upcoming match against Rwanda, calling it a potential turning point for Nigeria’s World Cup hopes.
“The Super Eagles are in a very difficult situation right now, but we believe in ourselves that we can still scale through,” Musa said.
“Nigeria cannot be absent from the 2026 World Cup. It is going to be a big disaster for Nigerian players not to be at the World Cup. The important game is Rwanda.”
Musa added, “If we can get the three points from that match, it’s going to be a turning point for us. But it is not just a job for the Super Eagles alone. Every Nigerian must be involved because we need their support.”
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
