Victor Moses Breaks Silence on Shock Super Eagles Retirement at 27: ‘I Wanted Other Players to Have Their Moment’

Victor Moses, one of Nigeria’s most decorated footballers of his generation, has addressed one of the more puzzling decisions of his career — his retirement from the Super Eagles in 2018 at just 27 years old, an age at which most players are entering their prime international years.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pulse Sports Editor-in-Chief Joba Ogunwale at the Famous CFC Watch Party in Lagos, Moses offered a candid explanation for stepping away from international duty when he did. “You know what, Nigeria had a lot of talent, and there were a lot of players in the Super Eagles squad during the time I left,” he said. “I thought it was essential for other players to have their moment.”

The decision raised considerable debate among Nigerian football supporters at the time, particularly given that Moses had just featured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and remained a first-team regular at Chelsea in the Premier League. However, Moses was clear that his exit was not motivated by disillusionment or a breakdown in his relationship with the national team setup.

“I love playing for Nigeria, I really enjoyed it. I won the AFCON in 2013 and represented Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups,” he said. “I’ve had great moments, made great friends in the Super Eagles. It’s not about leaving Nigeria, it’s more about the moments I experienced, and I really enjoyed my time.”

Moses finished his international career with 12 goals in 38 appearances for the Super Eagles — a record that underlines his consistent contribution across more than half a decade of service. His international journey was itself unconventional: he made 25 appearances across various youth levels for England before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2012, going on to become a key figure in the squad almost immediately.

His most celebrated moment in a green-and-white shirt came at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, where Nigeria claimed their first continental title since 1994. Moses contributed directly to that triumph, scoring twice during the group stage. He subsequently appeared at two FIFA World Cups — Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 — cementing his status as one of the Super Eagles’ most experienced players of his era.

At club level, Moses built a career that spanned several top European sides, including Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace, before his most prominent chapter arrived at Chelsea under Antonio Conte. Deployed as a right wing-back in Conte’s 3-4-3 system, Moses was one of the standout performers as Chelsea won the Premier League title in the 2016-17 season and the FA Cup in 2018. The role revitalised his club career and made him a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge.

Since retiring from international football, Moses has continued playing at club level. Most recently, according to reports, he has extended his career into Kazakhstan, a move that signals his determination to remain active in the game despite stepping back from the international stage nearly eight years ago.

His comments at the Lagos event offer the clearest picture yet of the thinking behind a retirement that, on the surface, appeared premature. For Moses, it was less about stepping away and more about stepping aside — a distinction that, in his own words, reflects the fulfilment he drew from his time representing Nigeria rather than any sense of grievance or fatigue.