Nigeria’s national football coach, Eric Chelle, has announced that captain Ahmed Musa must prove his worth during the upcoming Unity Cup in London if he hopes to maintain his position on the team. Musa, who is Nigeria’s most capped international player with 108 appearances, has not played for the national squad since a friendly match against Guinea in January 2024.
Chelle faced criticism for earlier including Musa in his preliminary squad for World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe but ultimately excluded him from the final roster. Acknowledging Musa’s experience and quality, Chelle expressed confidence in the veteran forward’s ability to contribute to the team. “Ahmed Musa is a good player, is a great player,” said Chelle at a press conference. “He knows the game because he played lots of games, lots of big games, so he can bring something to the group.”
Despite Musa’s vast experience, Chelle emphasized that he must earn his spot by performing well in the Unity Cup, which includes strong contenders like Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. “He needs to take this chance and show us what he can do,” Chelle remarked, noting that the pressure is on Musa to demonstrate his capabilities.
In addition to assessing Musa, Chelle is focused on developing a new team identity, with plans to integrate fresh talent into the squad. Among the new invitees is Felix Agu, a defender who recently switched allegiance from representing Germany at the under-21 level to Nigeria. Chelle believes these new players can infuse energy into the squad, stating, “I was in Nigeria and watched two games in the league… I think they have some quality and deserve to have a chance.”
The Unity Cup provides a significant opportunity for Nigeria to test new systems and players as they prepare for upcoming matches. The team will kick off their campaign against Ghana on Wednesday, offering an exciting start to Chelle’s vision for the Super Eagles.
All eyes will be on Musa and the new recruits to see if they can meet the coach’s expectations and contribute to shaping a promising future for Nigerian football.