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Ahmed Musa (; born 14 October 1992) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for NPFL club Kano Pillars.
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. 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 the 2018 FIFA World Cup. With 111 appearances, he is Nigeria's most capped player since November 2021. Musa was a member of the Saudi club Al Nassr's squad that won the Saudi Premier League and Saudi Super Cup, both in 2019.
Musa held the record for the highest goals ever scored in one season in the history of the Nigeria Premier League until November 2011, when Jude Aneke of Kaduna United F.C. set a new record of 20 goals.
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,
Lolade Adewuyi of Goal.com put him on the list of Top Ten Nigerian International Players of 2010 and was also included in
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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.
In April, Venlo's football director Mario Captien said that representatives of Tottenham Hotspur had visited the club regarding the player, also AFC Ajax scout
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On 1 May 2011, Musa hit a brace to sink Feyenoord 3–2 and end any lingering fears of automatic relegation from the Eredivisie.
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.
In September VVV-Venlo chairman Hai Berden disclosed on Eredivisie Live that VVV-Venlo had turned down a last minute bid of €10 million for Musa from the Bundesliga. The name of the Bundesliga club was not disclosed.
On 17 September 2014 he scored an 82nd minute consolation goal in a 5–1 UEFA Champions League away rout to A.S. Roma. On 1 June 2015, Musa signed a new four-year contract with CSKA until the end of the 2018–19 season. 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.
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.
On 5 September 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 Mikel John Obi in a 2–0 win. Musa scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in a March 2011 friendly against Kenya.
In April 2011, 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. After the opening game against defending champions Ghana, Musa won the most valuable player award and boarded the next flight back to the Netherlands.
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.
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.
Musa was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. 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. At the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, he started in all three of the team's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage.
After appearing in all of Nigeria's qualifying matches, Musa was named in Stephen Keshi's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He scored two goals in the team's final Group F match, a 3–2 defeat to Argentina.
In October 2015, following the retirement of Vincent Enyeama from international football, Nigerian coach, Sunday Oliseh named Musa as the captain of the team. 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.
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 enough to keep the West Africans in the tournament as they were eliminated by Argentina. On 22 June 2018, Musa scored twice in a 2–0 victory over Iceland in their second group match of the World Cup. 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. He was named in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations team by head coach Gernot Rohr. He was also part of the Nigerian squad at the 2021 and 2023 editions of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Cameroon and Ivory Coast respectively. 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.
On 13 November 2021, Musa won his 101st international cap, surpassing the record previously held by Joseph Yobo.
On 17th of December 2025, The Nigerian National team captain announced his retirement from international career, upon his retirement, Ahmed Musa Hold the record of the Nigerian Most capped footballer with 111 matches for the National team.
Musa who is a Muslim, faced criticism from Muslims for wishing a Merry Christmas to his instagram 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 his Christians Wife next to a Christmas tree.
Following the Criticism from Nigerian Muslims, Musa called on Nigerians to remember that “in the beautiful game, we stand united, transcending tribe and religion.”
Musa also implored Nigerians to “join hands for peace, goals, and a brighter future.”
Al-Nassr
Nigeria U20
Individual
Personal life
In April 2017, Musa was involved in a dispute with his estranged wife Jamila, resulting in the police being called to his home. Shortly afterwards, the couple were divorced following "irreconcilable differences". On 23 May, Musa married Juliet Ejue in Abuja.
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.
Business interests
In October 2017, Musa purchased a second petrol station in Nigeria, expanding his investments in the energy sector.
On February 1, 2021, Musa commissioned the Ahmed Musa Neighborhood Center, which is located in Kamazo, a suburb of Kaduna located in Chikun Local Government Area. The facility includes a gym, football pitch, and event space, and serves as a hub for youth development and community engagement.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition VVV-Venlo 2010–11 Eredivisie 7 2011–12 Eredivisie 3 CSKA Moscow 2011–12 Russian Premier League 1 2012–13 Russian Premier League 15 2013–14 Russian Premier League 9 2014–15 Russian Premier League 11 2015–16 Russian Premier League 18 Leicester City 2016–17 Premier League 4 2017–18 Premier League 1 CSKA Moscow (loan) 2017–18 Russian Premier League 7 Al Nassr 2018–19 Saudi Pro League 10 2019–20 Saudi Pro League 4 2020–21 Saudi Pro League 0 Kano Pillars 2020–21 Nigeria Professional Football League 0 Fatih Karagümrük 2021–22 Süper Lig 4 2022–23 Süper Lig 0 Sivasspor 2022–23 Süper Lig 0 2023–24 Süper Lig 1
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals Nigeria 0 1 2 2 4 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
+ List of international goals scored by Ahmed Musa 2–2 3–1 2–0
Honours
CSKA
Nigeria
Orders
See also
External links
Categories: 1992 Births, Living People, Nigerian Muslims, Footballers From Jos, Nigerian Men's Footballers, Juth F.c. Players, Kano Pillars F.c. Players, Vvv-venlo Players, Pfc Cska Moscow Players, Leicester City F.c. Players, Al-nassr Fc Players, Fatih Karagümrük S.k. Footballers, Sivasspor Footballers, Nigeria Professional Football League Players, Eredivisie Players, Russian Premier League Players, Premier League Players, Saudi Pro League Players, Süper Lig Players, Men's Association Football Forwards, Nigeria Men's International Footballers, Nigeria Men's Under-20 International Footballers, 2013 Africa Cup Of Nations Players, 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup Players, 2014 Fifa World Cup Players, 2018 Fifa World Cup Players, 2019 Africa Cup Of Nations Players, 2021 Africa Cup Of Nations Players, 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations Players, Africa Cup Of Nations–winning Players, Nigerian Expatriate Men's Footballers, Expatriate Men's Footballers In The Netherlands, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Russia, Expatriate Men's Footballers In England, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Saudi Arabia, Expatriate Men's Footballers In Turkey, Nigerian Expatriate Sportspeople In The Netherlands, Nigerian Expatriate Sportspeople In Russia, Nigerian Expatriate Sportspeople In England, Nigerian Expatriate Sportspeople In Saudi Arabia, Nigerian Expatriate Sportspeople In Turkey, Fifa Men's Century Club, Members Of The Order Of The Niger, Officers Of The Order Of The Niger, 21st-century Nigerian Sportsmen
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