Oluwatosin Enesi
Despite being Nigeria’s most capped player and top scorer at the World Cup, Musa has seen his role with the national team diminish in recent years, largely due to the rise of younger talents like Samuel Chukwueze.
Musa, now 31, did not feature in any of Nigeria’s matches at the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, despite being the team captain.
After leaving his last club in Turkey earlier this year, the winger has struggled to secure a new contract with a European team.
As a result, Musa has taken an audacious step by returning to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to play for Kano Pillars, a club he briefly rejoined in 2021 before moving to Turkey.
This decision, according to Odegbami, is part of Musa’s plan to maintain his fitness and form in hopes of being called up to the Super Eagles for AFCON 2025.
Odegbami, a 1980 AFCON champion, praised Musa for his achievements but expressed concern about the risk Musa is taking with this move.
“I also wore the number 7 jersey and share some traits with Ahmed Musa,” Odegbami said in his column in Complete Sports.
“Like me, he scored many goals from the wings, including four during two World Cups—the highest by a Nigerian in World Cup history.
“He is the most capped player in Nigeria’s history, holder of two national honours (MON, and OON), professional player in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.”
Odegbami acknowledged Musa’s incredible career, noting that he is the only Nigerian player to return to the NPFL twice.
The elder statesman, however, linked Musa’s bold decision to join the domestic league circuit for the third time in his career to his desire to remain relevant in the national team ahead of Morocco 2025.
“It is in the news now that, 6 months after departing the national team and not securing a contract to play for any team abroad, he will be rejoining his former team, Kano Pillars FC, this season and intends to leverage on that ‘project’ and play his way back to the Super Eagles for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco,” Odegbami noted.
However, the legendary forward warned, “He is taking a big risk. Most before him did not take that path. Few players in Nigeria’s football history have returned to the NPFL to end their careers, and probably none succeeded in leaving a mark.”
As Odegbami concluded, “This is also wishing him the very best of luck in this ambitious new adventure.”
Musa, who was part of Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON-winning squad, will be hoping this calculated risk pays off.
Our Reporter
Broadcasters
