Ahmed Musa has officially announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a distinguished 15-year career with the Super Eagles. The 33-year-old leaves the national team as Nigeria’s most capped player and one of the country’s most accomplished footballers of his generation.
Musa made the announcement on Wednesday via a message shared on his social media platforms, where he reflected on his journey and the honour of representing Nigeria on the global stage.
He said the decision came after deep reflection, describing his time with the Super Eagles as one of pride, commitment and sacrifice. From his first invitation to the national team, he noted, wearing Nigeria’s green and white jersey was always a source of immense joy and responsibility.
Looking back on the start of his career, Musa recalled being invited simultaneously to the U-20, U-23 and senior national teams while still very young. Despite the demanding travel schedule and the learning curve, he said he never hesitated whenever the national call came, stressing that representing Nigeria was always non-negotiable.
Musa highlighted his achievement of earning 111 international caps, a record that makes him the most capped player in the history of Nigerian football. He described the milestone as a great honour and said every appearance for the Super Eagles came with a strong sense of duty to the nation.
Among the highlights of his international career, Musa pointed to Nigeria’s triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as a defining moment. He also reflected proudly on his World Cup exploits, where he made history as the first Nigerian to score more than one goal in a single World Cup match after netting twice against Argentina in 2014. He later extended that record by scoring two goals against Iceland at the 2018 World Cup, becoming the first Nigerian to score in two different World Cup tournaments and Nigeria’s highest goalscorer at the competition with four goals.
The former Super Eagles captain expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaches, technical crew and football administrators for their support throughout his career. He also thanked Nigerian fans at home and abroad for standing by him through highs and lows.
Musa said he is leaving international football with a sense of fulfilment, confident that he gave his best and optimistic about the future of the Super Eagles. He added that his bond with the national team and the country remains unbroken.
At club level, Musa returned to Kano Pillars in October 2024 for his third spell with the club. He remains part of the four-time Nigeria Professional Football League champions and is set to assume the role of general manager ahead of the 2025/2026 season.
