Nigeria’s most capped footballer, Ahmed Musa, has officially announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a distinguished fifteen-year journey with the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, through a personal statement shared on social media, where the former national team captain reflected on a career defined by loyalty, sacrifice, and landmark achievements while representing Africa’s most populous nation on the global football stage.
“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 said. “From the very first call-up, wearing the green and white meant everything to me.”
Okay News reports that Musa’s international career began at an unusually young age, with simultaneous invitations to Nigeria’s Under-20, Under-23, and senior national teams, a rare feat that underscored his early promise and rapid rise.
Recalling those formative years, the forward said, “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.”
Musa emphasized the significance of earning 111 international appearances, a record that places him above all others in Nigeria’s football history. “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,” he stated.
His international résumé includes winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, a triumph that restored Nigeria’s continental dominance. Musa also etched his name into global football history at the FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Nigerian to score more than once in a single match at the tournament, achieving that feat against Argentina in 2014. He later extended the record by scoring twice against Iceland in 2018, making him the first Nigerian to score in two different World Cups.
“Winning the 2013 AFCON will always stand out. That team showed what it meant to play for Nigeria,” Musa said. “Scoring at the World Cup, against Argentina and Iceland, are memories I will always carry with me. To score four goals at the World Cup and be Nigeria’s highest goalscorer on that stage is something I am truly grateful for.”
The thirty-three-year-old expressed gratitude to former teammates, coaches, technical staff, football administrators, and Nigerian supporters across the world, crediting them for their belief and encouragement throughout his international journey.
“As I step away from international football, I do so with peace and gratitude. I know I gave my best. I know the Super Eagles will continue to move forward. And I know that this bond will never be broken. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle. Thank you, Nigeria. Thank you for everything,” he added.
Beyond international football, Musa has remained active in domestic football administration. In October 2024, he returned to Kano Pillars, a four-time champion of the Nigeria Professional Football League, for a third spell and later assumed the role of general manager ahead of the 2025–2026 season.
