Ahmed Musa, Nigeria’s most capped international footballer, has announced his retirement from the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
Musa’s decision brings an end to a 15-year international career that spanned three World Cups, five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and 111 appearances in green and white.
The former Leicester City winger confirmed his decision on Wednesday via Instagram, a day after Nigeria’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Egypt in Cairo, closing the curtain on a national team journey that began when he was just 17.
Musa’s announcement comes after his omission from Eric Chelle’s latest Super Eagles squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a decision that appears to have crystallised a gradual step away from the international scene.
Musa wrote: “I wore this badge with pride for 15 years. From a 17-year-old boy answering every call to becoming the most capped Super Eagle with 111 appearances. AFCON champion Nigeria’s highest World Cup goalscorer
“Captain. Servant. Believer.
“I gave everything.
“Thank you Nigeria… my heart will always beat green ”
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Though he remained adamant in recent months that his international story was not yet finished, Musa had seen his influence reduced under successive coaches, from Finidi George to Augustine Eguavoen, before being overlooked again by Chelle.
Yet even in decline, his status within the game never diminished.
Ahmed Musa: Tributes pour in as Super Eagles salute a ‘Legend’
Reaction from across Nigerian football was swift and emotional, led by those who shared dressing rooms, leadership duties and major tournaments with Musa.
Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, who himself retired from international football last month, offered a single-word tribute that captured the sentiment of many: “Legend.”
Wilfred Ndidi, widely tipped to assume the captaincy going forward, wrote: “Skippo. Governor. Legend.”
Former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie added: “The governor. Thank you for your service.”
And 2019 AFCON top scorer Odion Ighalo also paid his respects, simply posting: “Skippo.”
Musa bows out as Nigeria’s most capped player, having overtaken Joseph Yobo’s long-standing record in 2021. He remains Nigeria’s highest goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup, memorably netting two goals against Argentina in 2014 and another brace against Iceland in 2018.
An Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2013 and a silver medallist at the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast, Musa’s later years with the Super Eagles were defined more by leadership than minutes on the pitch, a role coaches and teammates consistently credited him for.
Off the field, Musa remains deeply involved in Nigerian football. He currently serves as General Manager of Kano Pillars, his boyhood club, while also turning out as a player, a rare dual role.
Musa’s departure marks the end of an era for Nigerian football. For Ahmed Musa, it is the closing chapter of a career built on longevity, service and an unbreakable bond with the national badge.
