Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa (born 14 October 1992) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward and left winger for Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr and the Nigeria national team.

This article is about the footballer. For the politician, see Ahmed Musa (politician).

Ahmed Musa
Musa training with Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Ahmed Musa[1]
Date of birth (1992-10-14) 14 October 1992
Place of birth Jos, Nigeria
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Al-Nassr
Number 7
Youth career
GBS Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 GBS Football 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– Al-Nassr 41 (7)
National team‡
2011 Nigeria U20 6 (3)
2011 Nigeria U23 1 (1)
2010– Nigeria 91 (15)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:47, 11 March 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:23, 18 November 2019 (UTC)

Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[2] Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring twice against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[3] Musa was a member of the Al-Nassr squad that won the Saudi Premier League and Saudi Super Cup, both in 2019.[4]

Club career

Early career

Musa began his career in the GBS Football Academy.[5]

Breakthrough in Nigeria

In 2008, Musa was loaned to JUTH F.C.[6] where he played 18 games, scoring four goals in his first two professional seasons for the Healers. He was subsequently loaned to Kano Pillars F.C.,[7] in the 2009–10 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 the Nigeria Premier League[8] until November 2011, when Jude Aneke of Kaduna United F.C. set a new record of 20 goals.[9]

VVV-Venlo

Musa was transferred to Dutch club VVV-Venlo in summer 2010,[10] 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.[11] He was officially eligible to play for VVV-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 for VVV-Venlo against FC Groningen on 30 October. He started the game for VVV-Venlo, was fouled in the 50th minute and received a penalty kick.

Rated by Goal.com amongst the Hot 100 young football stars in the world to watch in 2011,[12] Lolade Adewuyi of Goal.com put him on the list of Top Ten Nigerian International Players of 2010[13] and was also included in IFFHS list of the best 140 players in the world.[14]

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, Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan and the top officials from the Nigerian football federation including the president Aminu Maigari.[15]

In April, Venlo's football director Mario Captien said that representatives of Tottenham Hotspur had visited the club regarding the player,[16] also Ajax scout Tijani Babangida said that Ajax were interested in Musa but that the outcome would be decided at the end of the season.[17]

On 1 May 2011, Musa hit a brace to sink Feyenoord 3–2 and end any lingering fears of automatic relegation from the Eredivisie.[18][19]

In August 2011, after returning from the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, Musa made his first appearance of the 2011–12 season at home against AFC Ajax and scored two goals.[20]

In September VVV-Venlo chairman Hai Berden disclosed on Eredivisie Live that VVV-Venlo had turned down a last minute bid of €10 million euros for Musa from the Bundesliga. The name of the Bundesliga club was not disclosed. [21]

CSKA Moscow
Musa playing for CSKA Moscow in 2012

On 7 January 2012, Musa signed for Russian side CSKA Moscow for an undisclosed fee.[22]

On 17 September 2014 he scored an 82nd minute consolation goal in a 5–1 UEFA Champions League away rout to A.S. Roma.[23] On 1 June 2015, Musa signed a new four-year contract with CSKA until the end of the 2018–19 season.[24] He finished the 2015–16 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.[25][26]

Leicester City

On 8 July 2016, Musa moved to Leicester City for a club record £16.6 million.[27] He scored his first goals with the club in a friendly against Barcelona in the 2016 International Champions Cup which ended in a 4–2 loss.[28] He made his Premier League debut on 13 August 2016 in the club's opening day 2–1 defeat to Hull City.[29] He scored his first Premier League goal with the opener in a 3–1 victory over Crystal Palace on 22 October 2016.[30]

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.[31]

Loan to CSKA Moscow

On 30 January 2018, Musa returned to CSKA Moscow on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[32]

Al-Nassr

On 4 August 2018, Musa moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr on a permanent deal.[33]

International career
Musa with Nigeria in 2013
Musa with Nigeria against Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

In April 2010 under Coach Lars Lagerbäck, he was called up to join the Nigeria national football team camp prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa[34] after helping the Nigerian team win in the 2010 WAFU Nations Cup where he scored a goal against Benin.[35] In the same tournament against Burkina Faso, Musa's goal deep into extra-time shot Nigeria into the finals of the tournament in Abeokuta.[36] He was however forced out of the Super Eagles' 30-man World Cup roster due to an ankle injury.[37]

On 5 August 2010, at the age of 17, Musa made his debut for the Nigeria senior team in a qualification match for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations against Madagascar, where he came on as a substitute for John Obi Mikel in a 2–0 win.[38] Musa scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in a March 2011 friendly against Kenya.

In April 2011, Ahmed Musa was included in the Nigeria national under-20 football team squad to represent the nation in the 2011 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.[39] After the opening game against defending champions Ghana, Musa won the most valuable player award and boarded the next flight back to the Netherlands. [40]

In August 2011, Musa represented Nigeria U20 in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Colombia, where he scored three goals in five matches. Musa was included by FIFA in shortlist of 10 candidates for the Adidas Golden Ball, which was awarded to the most outstanding player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.[41]

On 7 December 2011, Ahmed Musa was one of the four nominees named for the Confederation of African Football Most Promising Talent Award, however the award went to Ivory Coast's Souleymane Coulibaly. [42]

Musa was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.[43] He scored in a 4–1 semi-final defeat of Mali and appeared as a substitute against Burkina Faso in the final, as the Super Eagles won their third continental title. Overall, he appeared in five of the team's six matches.[38] At the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, he started in all three of the team's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage.[38]

After appearing in all of Nigeria's qualifying matches,[38] Musa was named in Stephen Keshi's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[44] He scored two goals in the team's final Group F match, a 3–2 defeat to Argentina.[45]

In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Though his performance against Iceland was superb, it was not even enough to keep the West Africans in the tournament as they were eliminated by Argentina[46] On 22 June 2018, Musa scored twice in a 2–0 victory over Iceland in their second group match of the World Cup.[47] In June 2019 he became the third most capped player for Nigeria's national team, surpassing Nwankwo Kanu, after appearing in a friendly against Zimbabwe.[48] He was named in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations team by head coach Gernot Rohr.[49]

Personal life

He was born from a multi-religious family, with his mother Sarah Musa (née Moses) being a Christian.

In April 2017, Musa was involved in a dispute with his estranged wife Jamila, resulting in the police being called to his home.[50] Shortly afterwards, the couple were divorced following "irreconcilable differences".[51]

On 23 May 2017, Musa married Juliet Ejue at Abuja.[52][53]

On 24 January 2019, Musa confirmed the news of the death of his mother Sarah Musa on his Twitter page. She had previously been ill.[54][55]

Career statistics
David Luiz (left) Musa (right) playing for Leicester City in a league match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 15 October 2016

Club
As of match played 11 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total Ref.
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
VVV-Venlo 2010–11 Eredivisie 23500—42277 [56]
2011–12 14310——153 [56]
Total 37810—424210 –
CSKA Moscow 2011–12 Russian Premier League 1110020—131 [57]
2012–13 28115420—3515 [57]
2013–14 267416110379 [57]
2014–15 30102061103911 [57]
2015–16 291341104004318 [57]
Total 124421562662016755 –
Leicester City 2016–17 Premier League 212525010324 [58]
2017–18 0011——11 [58]
Total 212635010335 –
CSKA Moscow (loan) 2017–18 Russian Premier League 106006100167 [57]
Al-Nassr 2018–19 Saudi Professional League 247200000267 [58]
2019–20 170420010222 [58]
Total 417620010489 –
Career total 2356528113778230685 –

    International
    As of match played 14 November 2019[59]
    Nigeria
    YearAppsGoals
    201020
    2011101
    201262
    2013162
    2014124
    2015102
    201650
    201750
    2018134
    2019120
    Total9115

    International goals
    As of 8 September 2018. Score column indicates score after each Musa goal, Nigeria score listed first.[59]
    Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
    1.29 March 2011National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria Kenya1–03–0Friendly
    2.16 June 2012U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Nigeria Rwanda1–02–02013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
    3.13 October 2012U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Nigeria Liberia2–06–1
    4.6 February 2013Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa Mali4–04–12013 African Cup of Nations
    5.5 June 2013Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Kenya Kenya1–01–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
    6.25 June 2014Estádio Beira-Rio, Praia de Belas, Brazil Argentina1–12–32014 FIFA World Cup
    7.2–2
    8.15 October 2014National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria Sudan1–03–12015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
    9.3–1
    10.28 March 2015Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa South Africa1–01–1Friendly
    11.8 September 2015Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Niger1–02–0
    12.22 June 2018Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia Iceland1–02–02018 FIFA World Cup[47]
    13.2–0
    14.8 September 2018Stade Linité, Victoria, Seychelles Seychelles1–03–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
    15.16 October 2018Stade Taïeb Mhiri, Sfax, Tunisia Libya2–03–2

    Honours

    Club

    CSKA

    Al-Nassr

    International

    Nigeria U20

    • African Youth Championship: 2011

    Nigeria

    Individual

    References
    1. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
    2. Oluwashina Okeleji (26 June 2014). "World Cup 2014: Musa revels in Nigerian goals record". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
    3. "Nigeria vs Iceland : Ahmed Musa first Nigerian to score at two World Cups". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
    4. "Super Eagles star Ahmed Musa wins prestigious title with his club in Saudi Arabia". www.msn.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    5. "Goal.com Scouting Report: Ahmed Musa – VVV Venlo and Nigeria". 5 November 2010.
    6. "The Official Website of Kano Pillars Football Club – Masu Gida".
    7. Akpayen, George (17 April 2010). "Nigerian Football League: Kano Pillars Is Bigger Than Me – Ahmad Musa".
    8. "AHMED MUSA breaks Premier League Goals Record:: All Nigeria Soccer – The Complete Nigerian Football Portal".
    9. "MTN Football". Archived from the original on 18 November 2011.
    10. Akpayen, George (29 July 2010). "Nigerian Football League: Musa Leaves For VVV Venlo In Fortnight".
    11. Musa too young to leave for Europe Archived 20 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
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    14. "AHMED MUSA and MIKEL OBI Make IFFHS World's Best Shortlist:: All Nigeria Soccer – The Complete Nigerian Football Portal".
    15. Edema, Peter (14 March 2011). "Nigeria: AIT Awards – Rewarding Soccer Excellence". AllAfrica.
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    23. "Google Translate".
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    35. Mtn football news 10 April 2010 Archived 22 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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