Super Eagles captain snubbed: What Ahmed Musa said after missing Chelle’s squad

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has been left out of Eric Chelle’s 23-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Kano Pillars forward made a return to the national team setup when the Malian gaffer initially announced a provisional squad of 39 players—a deviation from the usual 23- or 25-man lists released ahead of matches.

However, Musa, who last featured for the Super Eagles during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has thrown his support behind the team despite his omission.

Ahmed Musa Reacts to Eric Chelle’s Squad

In a chat with Modzero Sports, the former CSKA Moscow forward urged all invited players to give their all to secure victories for the team.

“The team is one, and any player called upon to do battle for the Super Eagles must give his all. I am totally in support of the team and will be cheering them to victory in these World Cup qualifier matches,” Musa said.

Whenever Musa has been absent from the squad or benched, vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has stepped in to lead the team.

Should Troost-Ekong also be unavailable, Wilfred Ndidi—who has captained Leicester City on multiple occasions—has been given the armband in the past.

Both Troost-Ekong and Ndidi are included in Chelle’s 23-man squad, ensuring the team has experienced leaders on the pitch despite Musa’s omission.