Former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has officially announced his retirement from international football.
The 33-year-old made the announcement in a social media post 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,” the post reads.
Reflecting on his journey, Musa described wearing the national colours as a deeply meaningful experience from the very beginning of his career.
“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”.
He made his debut for the national team at just 17 and went on to become Nigeria’s most capped international player.
His time with the Super Eagles was marked by major achievements, including being part of the squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Musa also left a lasting mark at the FIFA World Cup. At the 2014 tournament in Brazil, he scored twice against Argentina, becoming the first Nigerian to score more than one goal at a World Cup.
He repeated the feat at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with another brace against Iceland, becoming the first Nigerian to score in two World Cups and the country’s all-time leading goal scorer at the tournament.
Musa served as captain of the national team for a period before the armband was later handed to William Troost-Ekong, who has since retired from international football.
Following 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 spell. After one season with the team, he was appointed the club’s general manager at the start of the 2025/26 season.