Ahmed Musa, Super Eagles forward speaks with Morakinyo Abodunrin on his rich vein of form and the secret behind his recent burst of goals for both club and country
It is one of the cardinal poles of the Islamic religion so much so that most men usually embark on the pilgrimage to Mecca before sending their wives to the holy land, but Ahmed Musa has sensationally revealed why it was his wife that performed the sacred obligation first.
The Super Eagles’ top scorer at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has been in rich vein of form for both club and country scoring a successive brace as Nigeria thrashed Sudan 3-1 penultimate Wednesday in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier as well CSKA’s 6-0 demolition of Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian League last Saturday.
But you don’t have to worry about the secret behind Musa’s sudden burst of goals following his disclosure to The Nation Sport & Style that the pillar behind his success is no other than his adorable wife, Jamila.
“I actually sent my wife to Hajj (Mecca) this year because she has been a strong pillar to me,” Musa said emphatically. “She has (religiously) been observing all the other four pillars of Islam and she needed to go to Mecca to complete the fifth as well as pray for the success of the family and my progress in particular.
“She is God sent and has been very supportive to me since we married. I am happy to have her as my wife because she knows how to raise my morale when it is down,” he added.
God has been kind to Ahmed and Jamila since they made the leap of faith to become husband and wife. Last year, Jamila gave birth to their first son at the Standard Hospital in Kano on March 30 and Musa was one of the stars when the Super Eagles won the AFCON trophy in South Africa.
“It was a great feeling to score for the Super Eagles and I was really happy to have scored twice against Sudan,” he said. “There was no special reason I ran to Coach Keshi after the first goal against Sudan.
“He didn’t tell me anything special before the kick off (against Sudan) than the normal talk before every game, but just to appreciate him because he is like a father to me.”
Musa, as widely reported, began his career in the Aminchi Football Academy. In 2008, he was loaned to JUTH F.C. where he played 18 games, scoring four goals in his first two professional seasons for the Healers. He was subsequently loaned to Kano Pillars. In the 200910 season, he set the league record with 18 goals as Pillars finished second. He previously held the record of the highest number of goals ever scored in one season in the history of the Nigeria Premier League until November 2011 when Jude Aneke of Kaduna United F.C. set a new goals record of 20 goals.
He transferred to VVV-Venlo in summer 2010 at age 17 but was officially eligible to play for the Dutch club on October 14, 2010 when he eventually turned 18 years of age. Less than a week after arriving at the club, Musa made his debut for VVV-Venlo against FC Groningen on 30 October. Musa won the AIT Footballer of the Year award in 2011 and on January 7, 2012 he signed for Russian side CSKA Moscow.
At a time many analysts faulted Musa’s move to Moscow after he spun offers from top sides including Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Everton, Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart, his mentor, Ahmed Ibrahim (aka Coach Bros), said then the lad would be better for it.
“He chose CSKA because he will have opportunity to feature in the UEFA Champions League or Europa League regularly and he will also have regular playing time,” offered Ibrahim. “He did not go there mainly for money, but, of course, he would most certainly have an improved contract to what he had while he was in Holland.
“He was born and brought up in Jos which has a very cold weather, so adapting to the Russian cold won’t be too challenging for Ahmed as he has been used to cold weather right from childhood,” he argued.
Two years on, Musa similarly told The Nation Sport & Style, adding that he’s enjoying his football at CSKA Moscow: “There is little difference between the Dutch and Russian leagues,” said the fleet- footed striker. “They are both top class leagues and at the same level, but the only thing is that it is very cold here in Russia. I have not witnessed racism at CSKA and my immediate priority now is to win the Russian league again and help Nigeria secure AFCON ticket,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Musa has reportedly been tipped as one of the next big deals by CSKA Moscow coach, Leonid Slutsky.
“He came to us as a talented 19-year-old from the Dutch league. It took him time, but he is at the right age to excel now,” Slutsky reportedly told the Russian media. “He is finally fulfilling the potential that made the club spend that much on him, at age 22 he has now added consistency to his game and he can only get better.”
The former Kano Pillars goal king arrived the Russian capital for €5M and in his four years with the team he has won back to back league title in addition to lifting the Russian cup last year. His medal haul in Russia also include
