Super Eagles’ vice-captain. Ahmed Musa has sent an emotional farewell message to John Mikel Obi and Odion Ighalo who recently announced their decision to quit national team duty. The Nigerian duo revealed their international retirement following the conclusion of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Ahmed Musa believes John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo will be ‘greatly missed’ following their retirement from the Super Eagles. Mikel, who made 88 appearances for the three-time African champions, announced his retirement from the national team on Thursday.
Mikel represented the Nigeria under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and won the Silver Ball for the second-best player at the tournament (behind Lionel Messi) as the Africans finished runner-up to Argentina.
He made his debut for the Nigeria senior team on 17 August 2005, when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over Libya.
The 32-year-old Trabzonspor midfielder featured twice in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as Gernot Rohr’s men finished third in the continental tournament.
Ighalo, who won the recently-concluded continental competition’s Golden Boot award with five goals, has also heralded his decision to retire from the Super Eagles.
He is the seventh all-time highest Super Eagles goalscorer in history, having scored 16 goals in 35 appearances for the West Africans.
Musa, has taken to the social media to wish his former teammates the best in their future endeavours. “As hard as it is to accept that you guys have retired from the National Team, it’s been nothing but a privilege and a great honour to play with you guys,” Musa posted on Instagram.
“Here’s wishing you nothing but the absolute best in your future pursuits. You will be greatly missed in the team John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo,” Musa wrote.
Ahmed Musa was the vice-captain of the Super Eagles team at the recently concluded AFCON and he wore the arm-band most times because of the limited playing time that Mikel Obi got at the tournament. With the former Chelsea star hanging up his Super Eagles’ boots, the most senior player in the current set up is Musa.