Sports

Ahmed Musa Retires From International Football

Published

6 months ago

December 17, 2025

Ahmed Musa has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 15-year career with the Super Eagles during which he became Nigeria’s most capped player and one of the country’s most accomplished footballers of his generation.

Musa made the announcement in a statement shared on his social media platforms on Wednesday.

“After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles. From the very first call-up, wearing the green and white meant everything to me,” Musa said.

The 33-year-old recalled his early years in the national team setup, noting that his rise coincided with invitations to multiple national teams at the same time.

“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,” he said.

Musa retires as Nigeria’s most capped international, having made 111 appearances for the Super Eagles. He described the milestone as a source of pride and responsibility.

“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,” he said.

During his international career, Musa won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 2013 and set several records at the FIFA World Cup.

He became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a single World Cup match, netting twice against Argentina in 2014, and later became the first Nigerian to score in two World Cups after his brace against Iceland in 2018.

“Winning the 2013 AFCON will always stand out. Scoring at the World Cup, against Argentina and Iceland, are memories I will always carry with me. 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.

He expressed appreciation to his teammates, coaches, support staff and football administrators, as well as Nigerian fans at home and abroad, for their support throughout his international career.

“As I step away from international football, I do so with peace and gratitude. I know I gave my best, and I believe the Super Eagles will continue to move forward,” he said.

At club level, Musa returned to Kano Pillars in October 2024 for a third spell with the Nigeria Professional Football League side.

He currently serves as general manager of the club ahead of the 2025–26 season.

Related Topics:

Up Next

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua floors Jake Paul in sixth-round knockout

Don't Miss

‘Don’t Try To Reach World Cup From Backdoor,’ DR Congo Slams Nigeria Over FIFA Petition

News20 hours ago

The dramatic landing of a Bombardier Challenger CL-601 on a concrete road under construction in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, has triggered intense public scrutiny. However, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) subsequent disclosure that the flight crew consisted of a 75-year-old pilot and a 70-year-old co-pilot has exposed a fascinating layer of international aviation law. While Nigerian civil aviation regulations strictly prohibit commercial pilots over the age of 65 from commanding flights, the NCAA has clarified that the crew of the aircraft (registration N989BC) committed no offence regarding their age under Nigerian law. Under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the “State of Registry” holds primary jurisdiction over the licensing of the flight crew, not necessarily the country whose skies the plane is traversing. Because the Bombardier Challenger is registered in the United States (indicated by the “N” prefix in N989BC), it remains an extension of U.S. regulatory territory regarding airworthiness and crew compliance, BusinessDay’s findings show. The pilots hold U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licenses and operate under FAA Part 91 and Part 135 regulations. Unlike Nigeria’s rigid cap of 65 years, U.S. regulations do not have a hard upper age limit for non-commercial or certain private charter operations, provided the pilots can pass the FAA’s stringent, bi-annual First-Class Medical certifications. Related News Fayose casts vote, predicts APC’s Oyebanji will win Ekiti guber poll INEC BVAS malfunctions, fails to capture 90-year old voter EIB, Lagos sign €170m deal to develop water transport network “The pilot is not overaged in America,” explained Don Spiff, NCAA’s Director of Operations, Licensing, and Training in a recent TV interview. “These guys are not flying with a Nigerian licence, and because it’s American-registered, the pilots hold American FAA licences. It is not a breach,” he clarified. “Aviation is a very dynamic field. It is in the Civil Aviation Act, yet to be implemented, that after 65, a Nigerian pilot can actually fly private, as long as he passes his first-class medical,” Spiff added. He, however, noted that for the pilot to have taken off, it was not allowed because he did not obtain any clearance for takeoff. “He did a kamikaze (suicide mission) action. There will be penalties. So far, the NCAA has suspended their commercial certificate, which is called a PNCF.”