The last Group F game at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil could have been an uninspiring stalemate, with both sides having already qualified for the round of 16. Instead, Argentina and Nigeria went at each other’s throats, playing out one of the best games of a memorable tournament. The Super Eagles rallied after Messi’s early strike and, although they eventually lost 3-2, it marked the beginning of Ahmed Musa’s career as we know it. The diminutive CSKA Moscow winger grabbed both of Nigeria’s goals: the first a delightful curled effort into the far corner, and the second a low shot past Sergio Romero after deceiving the goalkeeper with a clever feint. Musa had been making waves in Russia before the World Cup, but it was on that fine summer day in Porto Alegre that he announced himself on the biggest stage.
It all began for Musa in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) when he started out at Kano Pillars FC as a scrawny teenager with pace to burn and tricks aplenty. The English Premier League prides itself as the most physical league around, but a cursory glance at Nigeria’s elite division can make the richest league in the world look like a friendly competition. The NPFL is a bruising 20-team battle, with little in the way of refinement. It was here that a 17-year old Musa thrived despite his obvious physical limitations. At 5 foot, 7 inches, he is hardly the most physically imposing player, but his single season with Kano Pillars saw him score 18 goals as his side narrowly lost out on the league title. Musa’s haul broke a 20-year record in the NPFL scoring charts, impressing the European scouts who had followed his progress over the season. But winning over the winger’s father over took some time, with Musa senior preferring his son study medicine instead of pursuing a football career. Musa is now set to become Leicester City’s record signing when he completes a reported £16m move from CSKA, but the fleet-footed 23-year-old could have arrived in England much earlier. Arsenal and Tottenham made enquiries at the beginning of 2012 when he was at VV Venlo, but CSKA stole a march on their rivals with a €5million bid – a bargain even at the time considering Musa’s CV. For a relatively small fee, the Russian club acquired a record-breaking Nigerian goalscorer, a 2011 Africa Youth Championship winner, and a player who had taken the Eredivisie by storm, his brace in Venlo’s 3-2 win over Feyenoord saving his lowly club from relegation in the 2010/11 season.
For Nigeria, Musa is a seasoned international with 11 goals in 58 caps to his name. In a national team setting where players have been known to shirk their responsibilities, he is one of the most dedicated players in the Super Eagles camp, and not once has he declined to represent his country. For a few months in 2015, he was named captain of the team before stepping down of his own accord to hand the armband to the more senior John Obi Mikel. The Chelsea midfielder may be the de facto leader, but when Nigeria begin their charge for World Cup qualification later this year, it is the 23-year old Musa who will be fronting the pursuit of a place in his adopted homeland of Russia. Musa’s versatility means he can play anywhere across the front three, and it will be interesting to see if he becomes a member of a deadly attacking trident with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. It is likely that Leicester will persist with their pulsating counter-attacking style, particularly in the Champions League where Musa’s pace and ability to beat defenders will prove to be crucial advantages. Mahrez has already shown that size is not necessarily a prerequisite for putting the fear of God into Premier League defences, and Musa, though willowy in frame, can mirror the Algerian’s impact. He is set to become an important fixture of Ranieri’s side through his unique blend of pace, flair, and immense dedication to the cause.