Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa Speaks Ahead of AFCON Qualifying Showdown Against Sierra Leone

• Ahmed Musa has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles will return to winning ways and make the country proud again
• Having failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Eagles are now condemned to qualify for next year’s AFCON tournament
• Musa also urged Nigerians to be patient with the new coach Jose Peseiro, saying fans should expect something special

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has disclosed that the team will return to winning ways and make Nigerians proud again.

After failing to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Nigeria begin their quest to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as they host Sierra Leone on Thursday, June 9.

It is Jose Peseiro’s first competitive game in charge of the team since the Portuguese tactician was appointed to take charge of the team by the Nigeria Football Federation.

The former Real Madrid assistant manager lost his first two friendly matches against Mexico and Ecuador in the United States, but Musa disclosed that Nigerians should expect something special from the tactician.

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Speaking during a pre-match conference, Musa said:

“I would say the very first time that I met him we spoke a lot. And if you have a manager that believes in your country and that he is coming to win the Nations Cup I think he knows what he saw that made him say that.

“So for me, with the kind of training I saw, I believe the Super Eagles will be very different from what people saw before. I think with this manager a lot of things will change.”

Nigeria return to the Moshood Abiola Stadium against the Lone Stars and Musa recalls how devastating it was to miss out on the World Cup.

“The last game we played in Abuja was very sad for everyone especially for me it was a very tough moment, there’s nothing we can do because that’s football, in football sometimes you win or lose.

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“Now we are here for the qualifier against Sierra Leone and everyone in camp is ready to make Nigeria proud once again.”

Musa denies retirement talks

Meanwhile, Musa has debunked claims he said he was retiring from the national team after the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 29-year-old forward has made a comeback to the Super Eagles after he was invited by newly appointed Super Eagles coach Jose Poseiro ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome on June 9 and 13 respectively

Musa who has a total of 106 caps for Nigeria revealed his statements at the AFCON were misconstrued and that he will always still honour any call up to the national team.