Super Eagles most capped international Ahmed Musa announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday, bringing an end to a 15-year spell, SportPremi reports.
The 33-year-old began his career at the U-20 level, before making his senior debut in September 2010 at the age of 17.
Musa’s tally of 111 appearances for the national team is the most by any Nigerian, while he is also the first Nigerian player to score in two different editions of the FIFA World Cup.
However, his last call-up came in 2023 for the African Cup of Nations, although he did not play a single minute at the tournament.
The former Leicester City forward was an integral member of the 2013 African Cup of Nations winning squad that defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final, to win a third continental crown.
He also won bronze at the 2019 edition, when Nigeria defeated Tunisia in the third-placed playoff encounter.
His decision comes few weeks after captain William Troost-Ekong also announced his retirement from international football, ahead of the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco
Musa calls time on Nigeria career
Ahmed Musa holds the record as the most-capped player in Nigeria football history, alongside several other records.
However, he has not made an appearance for the Super Eagles in almost two years and has now called time on an impressive career.
“Dear Nigerians, dear Super Eagles family. After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles,” Musa wrote on social media.
“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 U20, U23 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”, the 33-year-old added.
Musa scored 16 times for the three-time African champions, including scoring in consecutive FIFA World Cup editions.
“Football took me to many places around the world, but Nigeria was always home. Playing 111 matches for my country is something I hold with deep respect,” he continued.
“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.
“I did my best to give everything I had, whether things were going well or not, because playing for Nigeria was always bigger than me.”
