Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa believed he still strong enough to add more to his already well decorated international caps, adding he would honour the national team call once coach Jose Peseiro deemed it fit to call him.
The 29-year-old Fatih Karagumruk winger who has already earned 106 international caps, said his stance that the last 2021 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) in Cameroon must have been misconstrued as retiring from the Super Eagles.
“I only said that the last AFCON in Cameroon was going to be my last but I never said I’m retiring from the Super Eagles,” the former Leicester City’s star said in Abuja ahead of the Super Eagles’ 2023 AFCON opener against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.“Yes, I said the last AFCON was going to be my last but didn’t say I’m not ready to play for the national team again.
“The coach (Jose Peseiro) knows I still have something I can give and that is why he has called me.
“The next AFCON is next year and I don’t know if I’ll still be playing active football. But if I’m still active, it is left for the coach to call me if he thinks I still have something to give.
“So anytime I get a call up, I know I have to come because this is my country.”
The Super Eagles would on Thursday open their 2023 AFCON campaign against their ‘bogey’ opponent with whom they drew twice including surrendering a 4-1 lead to draw 4-4 in Benin City in the qualifying tournament for Cameroon 2021.
“Against Sierra Leone, we are not settling for a draw or a loss but definitely, we are going for a win on Thursday,” noted the 2013 AFCON winner. “We know it’s going to be a tough game but it is a home game for us.
“Agreed we drew with them the last time at home from 4-1 and then to 4-4 but we won’t make that mistake again,” he further said.
Meanwhile, Musa remains apologetic over the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the upcoming Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup even as he pleaded with Nigerians to repose their confidence on the team yet again.
“First, I want to start by saying we are sorry about the World Cup disappointment and we know it is not that easy to forget about the defeat (non-qualification FOR Qatar 2022) and up till now, most of us still have that shock,” noted Musa who is Nigeria’s top marksman at the FIFA World Cup with five goals including a brace against Argentina (2014) and Iceland (2018).“ Honestly, I still think that game(against Black Stars of Ghana)has not been played.
“I know a lot of Nigerians have lost confidence on us but we want to beg them and they should keep believing in the Super Eagles. Insha Allah (by the grace of God), we shall make sure they have that confidence back in us,” he added.