Super Eagles Snub: Is Ahmed Musa Done with Nigeria?
The veteran Super Eagles player was left out of the team that executed the last lap of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe on September 10 due to fitness issues.
He has since recovered from the issue and was expected that coach Jose Peseiro would include him in his squad for the friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique on October 13 and 16 respectively, but the 30-year-old forward was left out again.
Before now, Ahmed Musa has been a regular in the national team whether he is playing regularly for his club side or not, but it seems the current handlers of the team won’t allow such a culture to continue.
The fact that since Musa returned from his injury layoff he has not played regularly for his Turkish club, Sivasspor, contributed greatly to his omission from the national team this month.
Note that in Sivasspor’s last three games, Ahmed Musa has played for just nine minutes from the bench.
Things got so bad that Ahmed Musa remained on the bench throughout the Turkish League game between Sivasspor and Ankaragücü which ended 3-1 in favour of Ankaragücü on matchday five.
Musa’s nine minutes of action came in the game against Caykur Rizespor which ended in a 1-1 draw. In the club’s last weekend game against Hatayspor, Ahmed Musa was an unused substitute.
Though he is just 30 years old, the former Kano Pillars star has proven over time that he has given his best for the Super Eagles and has nothing more to add.
Recall that before his dwindling fortunes in the national team, he has scored 16 goals for the national team in 108 games. He is currently the player with the most appearances on the team.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner is the first Nigerian player to score more than once in the FIFA World Cup (two goals against Argentina in 2014). He is also the first Nigerian to score at least a goal in two different World editions (2014 and 2018).
However, the last time Ahmed Musa scored for the Super Eagles of Nigeria was in the 2-0 win against Liberia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on November 13, 2021.
Based on his current form and the vibrant youngsters available for the Super Eagles of Nigeria currently, Musa might be done with the national team and concentrate on his club career.
