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The jet-heeled Super Eagles forward now only has Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama facing him on Nigeria’s all-time appearance charts.
Ahmed Musa surpassed John Obi Mikel as the third-largest Super Eagles player in the most games played in Friday’s international friendly against Algeria.
The 27-year-old replaced Samuel Chukwueze in the 75th minute when Gernot Rohr’s men bowed 1-0 to the reigning African champions at Jacques Lemans Arena, clinching his 92nd international game for Nigeria in the process.
Having played against Algeria, Ahmed Musa has surpassed John Obi Mikel to become Nigeria’s third most capped player with 92 international appearances. pic.twitter.com/8k7wu2PPbs
– Shina Oludare @ (@sportingshina) October 9, 2020
Musa entered the game in 91 matches, on equal terms with the former Chelsea star who left international football after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt.
Now, only Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama stand in front of the former Leicester City and CSKA Moscow player, who boasts of having 15 international goals under his belt.
Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Ramy Bensebaini settled the game in the sixth minute after beating goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after taking advantage of an assist from Andy Delort.
Despite stepping up their game in the second half, the three-time African champions were unable to launch a comeback. By the way, Nigeria suffered their last loss to the North African during an Afcon 2019 semi-final match in Cairo.
Musa rose to international fame after helping Nigeria U23 win the 2010 Wafu Cup of Nations, where he scored a goal against the Republic of Benin and Burkina Faso.
His performance saw him invited to the senior team before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, although he did not make the 30-man squad due to an ankle injury.
At the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, the former Kano Pillars player scored three goals in five games, as included in the FIFA finalist list for the Adidas Ballon d’Or.
After representing the country in the lower ranks, the speedy forward made his full debut on August 5, 2010 in qualifying for the 2012 African Cup of Nations against Madagascar, coming in as Mikel’s replacement in a 2-0 victory.
He scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in an international friendly against Kenya in March 2011.
The three-time Russian Premier League winner has appeared for Nigeria in two Afcon championships and two FIFA World Cups. In addition, he is the country’s top scorer in the world’s top soccer competition with four goals to his name, all against Argentina.
Nigeria will face Tunisia in another friendly on Tuesday and the German Eagles tactician is expected to dress him up for action.
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