 Musa training withNigeria at the2018 FIFA World Cup | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ahmed Musa[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1992-10-14)14 October 1992 (age 33)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jos,Plateau, Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Kano Pillars | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | GBS Academy | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | GBS Academy | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | →JUTH (loan) | 18 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | →Kano Pillars (loan) | 25 | (18) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | VVV-Venlo | 37 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | CSKA Moscow | 125 | (42) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Leicester City | 21 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | →CSKA Moscow (loan) | 10 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Al-Nassr | 50 | (9) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Kano Pillars | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Fatih Karagümrük | 34 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Sivasspor | 19 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Kano Pillars | 23 | (10) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Nigeria U20 | 6 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Nigeria U23 | 1 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010– | Nigeria | 111 | (16) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21:00, 28 May 2025 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
Ahmed MusaOON MON (/ˈɑːxmɛdmuːsə/ ⓘ; born 14 October 1992) is a Nigerian professionalfootballer who plays as aforward orwinger forKano Pillars in theNPFL and theNigeria national team.
Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twiceagainstArgentina in the2014 FIFA World Cup.[4] Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring another brace against Iceland in the group stage of the2018 FIFA World Cup.[5] With 111 appearances, he is Nigeria's most capped player since November 2021. Musa was a member of the Saudi clubAl Nassr's squad that won theSaudi Premier League andSaudi Super Cup, both in 2019.[6]
Musa began his career in the GBS Football Academy.[7]
In 2008, Musa was loaned toJUTH F.C.[8] where he played 18 games, scoring four goals in his first two professional seasons for the Healers. He was subsequently loaned toKano Pillars F.C.,[9] in the2009–10 season where he set the league record scoring multiple crucial goals as Pillars finished second.
Musa held the record for the highest goals ever scored in one season in the history of theNigeria Premier League[10] until November 2011, whenJude Aneke ofKaduna United F.C. set a new record of 20 goals.[11]
Musa was transferred toDutch clubVVV-Venlo in summer 2010,[12] but the move was held up because he was only 17 years of age and therefore not eligible for an ITC in accordance with the current FIFA rules.[13] He was officially eligible to play forVVV-Venlo on 14 October 2010 when he eventually turned 18 years of age.
Less than a week after arriving at the club, Musa made his debut forVVV-Venlo againstFC Groningen on 30 October. He started the game forVVV-Venlo, was fouled in the 50th minute and received a penalty kick.[14]
Rated by Goal.com amongst the Hot 100 young football stars in the world to watch in 2011,[15]Lolade Adewuyi of Goal.com put him on the list of Top Ten Nigerian International Players of 2010[16] and was also included inIFFHS list of the best 140 players in the world.[17]
On 8 March 2011, Ahmed Musa won the AIT footballer of the year award (national). The ceremony was held at the Presidential Hotel,Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event had in attendance,BBC African Footballer of the Year winner, GhanaianAsamoah Gyan and the top officials from the Nigerian football federation including the presidentAminu Maigari.[18]
In April, Venlo's football director Mario Captien said that representatives ofTottenham Hotspur had visited the club regarding the player,[19] alsoAjax scoutTijani Babangida said that Ajax were interested in Musa but that the outcome would be decided at the end of the season.[20]
On 1 May 2011, Musa hit a brace to sinkFeyenoord 3–2 and end any lingering fears of automatic relegation from the Eredivisie.[21][22]
In August 2011, after returning from the2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, Musa made his first appearance of the 2011–12 season at home againstAFC Ajax and scored two goals.[23]
In September VVV-Venlo chairman Hai Berden disclosed onEredivisie Live thatVVV-Venlo had turned down a last minute bid of €10 million for Musa from theBundesliga. The name of theBundesliga club was not disclosed.[24]
On 7 January 2012, Musa signed for Russian sideCSKA Moscow for an undisclosed fee.[25]
On 17 September 2014 he scored an 82nd minute consolation goal in a 5–1UEFA Champions League away rout toA.S. Roma.[26] On 1 June 2015, Musa signed a new four-year contract with CSKA until the end of the 2018–19 season.[27] He finished the2015–16 Russian Premier League season as the 5th highest scorer, becoming one of only seven players aged 23 or younger to reach double figures for goals in each of the past two seasons in Europe's top seven leagues.[28][29]
On 8 July 2016, Musa moved toLeicester City for a club record £16.6 million.[30] He scored his first goals with the club in a friendly againstBarcelona in the2016 International Champions Cup which ended in a 4–2 loss.[31] He made hisPremier League debut on 13 August 2016 in the club's opening day 2–1 defeat toHull City.[32] He scored his first Premier League goal with the opener in a 3–1 victory overCrystal Palace on 22 October 2016.[33]
By January 2017, Musa was yet to register an assist for the club, contributing an average of 0.5 key passes, 0.3 crosses and 1.2 successful dribbles per game.[34]
On 30 January 2018, Musa returned toCSKA Moscow on loan for the remainder of the2017–18 season.[35]
On 4 August 2018, Musa moved to Saudi Arabian sideAl Nassr on a permanent deal.[36] In October 2020, Al Nassr announced that Musa was leaving.[37] It was reported that Premier League clubWest Bromwich Albion were expected to complete a move for Musa in the January transfer window for the 2020–21 season,[38] but the move fell through.[39]
On 13 April 2021, Musa rejoined Nigerian clubKano Pillars until the end of the 2020–21 season.[40][41]
On 23 July 2021, Musa joined Turkish clubFatih Karagümrük,[42] signing a two-year contract.[43] After one season, Musa terminated his contract on a mutual agreement.[44]
On 2 September 2022, Musa signed on a free transfer for Turkish clubSivasspor on a two-year deal.[45] His contract was terminated on mutual agreement.[46]
In October 2024, Musa returned to Kano Pillars for a third stint.[47]
In April 2010 under CoachLars Lagerbäck, he was called up to join theNigeria national football team camp prior to the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa[48] after helping the Nigerian team win in the2010 WAFU Nations Cup where he scored a goal againstBenin.[49] In the same tournament againstBurkina Faso, Musa's goal deep into extra-time shot Nigeria into the finals of the tournament in Abeokuta.[50] He was however forced out of the Super Eagles' 30-man World Cup roster due to an ankle injury.[51]
On 5 September 2010, at the age of 17, Musa made his debut for the Nigeria senior team in aqualification match for the2012 Africa Cup of Nations againstMadagascar, where he came on as a substitute forMikel John Obi in a 2–0 win.[52] Musa scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in a March 2011 friendly againstKenya.
In April 2011, Musa was included in theNigeria national under-20 football team squad to represent the nation in the2011 African Youth Championship qualifiers, even though VVV Venlo had declared him unavailable for the tournament due to club commitments. After some intense negotiations with the Nigerian Federation, VVV Venlo and Musa's representatives it was agreed that Musa will shuttle between the Netherlands and South Africa to participate in the tournament with the national team.[53]After the opening game against defending champions Ghana, Musa won themost valuable player award and boarded the next flight back to the Netherlands.[54]
In August 2011, Musa represented Nigeria U20 in the 2011FIFA U-20 World Cup held inColombia, where he scored three goals in five matches. Musa was included byFIFA in shortlist of 10 candidates for theAdidas Golden Ball, which was awarded to the most outstanding player of theFIFA U-20 World Cup.[55]
On 7 December 2011, Ahmed Musa was one of the four nominees named for theConfederation of African Football Most Promising Talent Award, however the award went toIvory Coast'sSouleymane Coulibaly.[56]
Musa was called up toNigeria's 23-man squad for the2013 Africa Cup of Nations.[57] He scored in a 4–1 semi-final defeat ofMali and appeared as a substitute againstBurkina Faso in thefinal, as the Super Eagles won their third continental title. Overall, he appeared in five of the team's six matches.[52] At the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, he started in all three of the team's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage.[52]
After appearing in all of Nigeria'squalifying matches,[52] Musa was named inStephen Keshi's squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[58] He scored two goals in the team's finalGroup F match, a 3–2 defeat toArgentina.[59]
In October 2015, following the retirement of Vincent Enyeama from international football, Nigerian coach, Sunday Oliseh named Musa as the captain of the team.[60] This decision was however reversed in 2016 as Mikel John Obi was named captain of the Nigerian squad and Musa was moved to Vice Captain.[61]
In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria's preliminary 30-man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Though his performance against Iceland was superb, it was not enough to keep the West Africans in the tournament as they were eliminated by Argentina.[62] On 22 June 2018, Musa scored twice in a 2–0 victory overIceland in their second group match of the World Cup.[63] In June 2019 he became the third most capped player for Nigeria's national team, surpassingNwankwo Kanu, after appearing in a friendly againstZimbabwe.[64] He was named in the2019 Africa Cup of Nations team by head coachGernot Rohr.[65] He was also part of the Nigerian squad at the2021 and2023 editions of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Cameroon and Ivory Coast respectively.[66][67] At the 2023 AFCON, Musa was an unused substitute throughout but his leadership role and positive influence on the team was widely acknowledged by the coach and players alike.[68][69]
On 13 November 2021, Musa won his 101st international cap, surpassing the record previously held byJoseph Yobo.[70]
In April 2017, Musa was involved in a dispute with his estranged wife Jamila, resulting in the police being called to his home.[71] Shortly afterwards, the couple were divorced following "irreconcilable differences".[72] On 23 May, Musa married Juliet Ejue inAbuja.[73][74]On 24 January 2019, Musa confirmed the news of the death of his mother Sarah Musa on hisTwitter page. She had previously been ill.[75][76]
Musa who is a Muslim, faced criticism fromMuslims for wishing a MerryChristmas to hisinstagram followers with a post captioning: "Compliments of the season This festive season, I pray that you experience true joy and peace and may things of celebration never cease from your household. Merry Christmas to you all". Whilst posting a picture of hisChristian Wife next to aChristmas Tree.[77]
Following the Criticism fromNigerian Muslims, Musa called on Nigerians to remember that “in the beautiful game, we stand united, transcending tribe andreligion.”[78]
Musa also implored Nigerians to “join hands forpeace, goals, and a brighter future.”[78]
In October 2017, Musa purchased a second petrol station in Nigeria, expanding his investments in the energy sector.[79]On February 1, 2021, Musa commissioned the Ahmed Musa Neighborhood Center, which is located inKamazo, a suburb ofKaduna located inChikun Local Government Area. The facility includes a gym, football pitch, and event space, and serves as a hub for youth development and community engagement.[80][81][82][83][84][85]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| VVV-Venlo | 2010–11[86] | Eredivisie | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4[c] | 2 | 27 | 7 | ||
| 2011–12[86] | Eredivisie | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 42 | 10 | ||||
| CSKA Moscow | 2011–12[87] | Russian Premier League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13[87] | Russian Premier League | 28 | 11 | 5 | 4 | — | 2[e] | 0 | — | 35 | 15 | |||
| 2013–14[87] | Russian Premier League | 26 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | 6[d] | 1 | 1[f] | 0 | 37 | 9 | ||
| 2014–15[87] | Russian Premier League | 30 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[d] | 1 | 1[f] | 0 | 39 | 11 | ||
| 2015–16[87] | Russian Premier League | 29 | 13 | 4 | 1 | — | 10[d] | 4 | — | 43 | 18 | |||
| Total | 124 | 42 | 15 | 6 | — | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 167 | 55 | |||
| Leicester City | 2016–17[88] | Premier League | 21 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 1[g] | 0 | 32 | 4 |
| 2017–18[88] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| Total | 21 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 5 | ||
| CSKA Moscow (loan) | 2017–18[87] | Russian Premier League | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[e] | 1 | — | 16 | 7 | ||
| Al Nassr | 2018–19[88] | Saudi Pro League | 24 | 7 | 3 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 4[h] | 1 | 31 | 10 | |
| 2019–20[88] | Saudi Pro League | 24 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 1[i] | 0 | 29 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21[88] | Saudi Pro League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 50 | 9 | 7 | 4 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 62 | 14 | |||
| Kano Pillars | 2020–21[88] | Nigeria Professional Football League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Fatih Karagümrük | 2021–22[88] | Süper Lig | 31 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2022–23[88] | Süper Lig | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 34 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 37 | 4 | |||||
| Sivasspor | 2022–23[88] | Süper Lig | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 3[j] | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24[88] | Süper Lig | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | ||||
| Career total | 303 | 69 | 36 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 393 | 96 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 2010 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 17 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2015 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2019 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 110 | 16 | |
CSKA
Al-Nassr
Nigeria U20
Nigeria
Individual
Orders
Member of theOrder of the Niger[95] Officer of theOrder of the Niger[96]
{{cite web}}:Cite uses generic title (help)
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