Ahmed Musa, former Super Eagles captain, has announced his retirement from international football.
On Wednesday, the 33-year-old announced his decision via a social media post.
“After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles,” the post reads.
“From the very first call-up, wearing the green and white meant everything to me.
“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. It was never something I had to think twice about.
“Playing 111 matches for my country is something I hold with deep respect. To become the most capped player in the history of Nigerian football is a great honour. Every time I wore the jersey, I understood the responsibility that came with it.”
Musa said he “gave everything” to the Super Eagles, adding that “football gave me a career, and Nigeria gave me meaning.”
Musa made his Super Eagles debut at the age of 17 and eventually became the team’s most capped player.
His time with the Eagles was exciting, including being a member of the team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Musa also reached individual accomplishments with the squad, particularly during World Cups. He became the first Nigerian to score more than one goal at a World Cup when he scored twice against Argentina in the group stage of the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
He cemented his achievement at the following World Cup by scoring twice against Iceland in Russia. He became not just the first Nigerian to score in two World Cups, but also the country’s all-time top goal scorer in the competition.
Musa was the national team captain for a while before being replaced by William Troost-Ekong, who has since retired.
After a successful club career in the Netherlands, Russia, England, and Saudi Arabia, Musa returned to Kano Pillars, his childhood club, in 2024 for a third time. He played with the squad for a season before being named general manager at the start of the 2025/26 season.
