Ahmed Musa Nicks 100th Cap For Nigeria
- In World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa on Tuesday bagged his milestone 100th cap wearing Nigeria’s colours in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group C match against Cape Verde.
The fleet-footed player’s historic moment came inside the Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena in Mindelo, a port city on São Vicente, an island in the volcanic archipelago of Cape Verde.
With the development, the 28-year-old forward, who was part of Nigeria’s AFCON 2013-winning squad, has now become an international centurion
Expectedly, the Leicester City player was part of the starting eleven as Nigeria boosted their chances for Qatar 2022 World Cup beating Bubista’s Blue Sharks 2-1 in Mindelo.
After representing Nigeria at youth level, the pacy forward made his senior debut on August 5, 2010, in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar – coming in as a substitute for ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel in the 2-0 win.
He is now the third centurion for Nigeria, but just one match short of Super Eagles’ record cap holders, Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama who have 101 caps each.
If fully fit and he feature against the Central African Republic in October, Musa will join the former Everton and Lille stars in the country’s hallowed ranks.
Currently plying his trade in Turkey with Fatih Karagumruk, the former Kano Pillars’ winger shot into international limelight after helping Nigeria U-23 side capture the 2010 WAFU Nations Cup, scoring goals against Benin Republic and Burkina Faso.
With 15 international goals to his credit so far, Musa’s impressive performances got him a call-up to the senior national team prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, he failed to make the 30-man squad due to an ankle injury.
At the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, the former CSKA Moscow striker scored three goals in five matches and he was on FIFA’s shortlist for the Adidas Golden Ball.
Scoring his first goal for the Eagles in an international friendly against Kenya in March 2011, the three-time Russian Premier League winner has featured for Nigeria at two AFCON tournaments and two FIFA World Cups.
He began his European football career at Eredivisie side, VVV Venlo and his impressive showing at the Dutch side saw him sign for Russian top-flight club, CSKA Moscow.
Having won three Russian Premier League titles, one Russian Cup and two Russia Super Cups with the Horses in his four-year spell, Musa joined Leicester City on July 8, 2016, for a club record fee of £16.6 million at that time.
But due to his inability to tie down a regular shirt at the King Power Stadium, he was sent back to CSKA Moscow on loan, before teaming up with Al Nassr in 2018 on a permanent deal.
For now, the Eagles’ skipper is continuing his professional career in Turkey after a short and uneventful stint with boyhood club, Kano Pillars in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) – With additional reports from Goal.com
