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By: Johnny Edward.
Ahmed Musa has vowed to return for the Super Eagles squad when the World Cup qualifiers begin in November, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Musa was excluded from the Eagles squad for their 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe due to an injury he sustained in Sivasspor’s league opener against Samsunspor on August 8.
“Thank you very much, I appreciate you checking up on me, I hope to be back soon for the World Cup qualifiers,” Musa said.
“It’s my dream to play in another World Cup. I believe we have a squad that is equally determined to qualify.
The former Leicester City winger also believes Jose Peseiro’s side has enough quality to wrap up a successful AFCON qualifying campaign with another win in his absence.
“We all know the importance of the game, so we are not going to take that easy because we know the opponents,” he continued.
“We are playing at home. Insha Allah, we are going to win the game and focus more on the World Cup qualifiers. We know what Nigerians always want.”
In January 2022, Musa revealed that the delayed AFCON tournament in Cameroon would be his last Africa Cup of Nations for the Eagles ruling him out of the tournament next year in Ivory Coast.
“It’s something that I have really thought about and I feel blessed to say this (2022 AFCON) will be my final Nations Cup with Nigeria,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“The players are fully aware of my plans and we have a squad good enough to win.
Musa also feels it is time for a younger generation to have their chance with the Super Eagles.
“There’s the need to give a chance to other young players to come through and play in the tournament,” he insisted. “I got my chance as a young player. I’ve fulfilled some childhood memories.”
Musa is Nigeria’s most-capped player in history, having played 109 matches since his debut aged just 17 in 2010.
He helped the Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and played for them at the last two World Cups in 2014 and 2018 where he scored twice at both tournaments in Brazil and Russia making him his country’s top World Cup goalscorer.