Super Eagles striker Ahmed Musa’s recent comeback to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has prompted some elite Nigerian players to announce their desire to play in the Nigerian top flight in the future.
The former CSKA Moscow star has made headlines in recent weeks for his efforts with Kano Pillars in the NPFL.
Musa and Shehu Abdullahi, who had previously played for the Super Eagles, returned to NPFL club Kano Pillars on a free transfer in October.
The former Leicester City player has impressed for the Sai Masu Gida this season.
The 32-year-old scored twice against Sunshine Stars earlier this month.
He also scored a goal in Kano Pillars’ 4-3 away win against Enugu Rangers, and he assisted in his team’s 1-1 draw with Kwara United last weekend.
Musa now has three goals and two assists in four games for Kano Pillars.
His performances in the Nigerian domestic league have piqued the interest of some elite Nigerian players in trying their hand at the local league in the near future.
Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye is set to join NPFL outfit Rivers United.
Ideye, who has previously played for European clubs including West Brom, Malaga, Göztepe, Dynamo Kyiv, and Olympiacos, began training with the Port Harcourt club a few days ago.
Rivers United’s head coach, Finidi George, has announced that Ideye is set to join the team.
“He has that hunger; we have seen Ahmed Musa, and if he’s willing to do that, I think we will welcome him [Ideye],” Finidi joked.
Also, certain current Super Eagles players, including Alex Iwobi, Maduka Okoye, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Frank Onyeka, have lately disclosed which NPFL clubs they would like to play for if given the option.
“I will join Musa at Kano Pillars,” Iwobi remarked when asked about his preference. On his part, Okoye stated, “The only option for me is the Enugu Rangers.” The Flying Antelopes are my team. Some Nigerians already know that it is my father’s club. It is where we are from, and it is where my roots are from. If I’m coming one day to the NPFL, it would be Enugu Rangers.”
When asked for his preference, Dele-Bashiru replied, “If I had to, the club I know the most is Kano Pillars, so maybe I would go there.”
Onyeka chose Enyimba, adding, “My state has a fantastic team, Enyimba, so obviously I want to play for Enyimba, but you never know. Some players might state they wanted to play for one squad but ended up playing for another.”
Former Super Eagles players have previously had to return to Nigeria’s domestic league to finish their careers.
Notable players who returned to the NPFL after playing in other leagues include Mobi Oparaku, Okechukwu Uche, and the late Rashidi Yekini.
Oparaku played for Gateway from 2005 to 2008, then moved on to Enyimba in 2008 and left the club in 2010.
Uche signed with Ocean Boys in 2007 and Bayelsa United in 2008, but Yekini played for Julius Berger in 2002-2003 before joining Gateway in 2005.
Speaking about the topic, Yaba FC assistant coach Ahmed Omale praised Musa for his decision to return to Kano Pillars to play in the NPFL.
Omale also expressed his delight that Super Eagles players had expressed an interest in the NPFL.
He believes it will increase the league’s prestige in Africa and around the world.
“It is great news that Super Eagles players have expressed an interest in playing in Nigeria’s local league. Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi paved the way for the current generation of Super Eagles players. “Honestly, it’s a good and welcome development,” Omale said.
“It adds a lot of optimism to the league.” It would undoubtedly improve the league’s prestige in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.
“People want to see the guys they saw in their best in Europe. That is one of the things I appreciate about Brazilian players. The bulk of them prefer to return to their nation to play in their domestic league around the end of their professional career.
“I recall Ronaldinho, Marcelo, David Luiz, and even Thiago Silva; there are many to name. After so many years in Europe, they all returned to their home country’s domestic league.
He continued, “It is a way of giving back to the country. So I must commend Musa for making this decision. Like they say, “there is no place like home.”
“I understand he is nearing the twilight of his professional football career, but he is performing admirably at Kano Pillars. If he continues his good play, he may be called up to the national squad for the 2025 AFCON.
“I also want to use this opportunity to call on other Nigerian players playing abroad to always try to come back home and upgrade the local league by playing for a domestic club after they have achieved everything in Europe.”
Idris Musa Adinoyi, captain of Dawaki Rangers FC, said Musa’s return to the NPFL demonstrates the Nigerian league’s growth over the last few seasons.
Adinoyi stated, “This demonstrates the NPFL’s rise over the last few years and will undoubtedly result in an increase in the quality of football, popularity, and ads associated with the entry of internationally known players.
“I believe that showing one’s talents whenever the opportunity arises is always a rewarding experience. I’m overjoyed for him [Ahmed Musa] because he’ll be able to spend this stage of his career in his native country, which he deeply values.
“Not to elevate any individual player over others in a team, but with his extensive international experience, many players in his current club will benefit from having such a degree of experience among their ranks.
“It’s not so long ago when Ahmed Musa had to endure a spell without being contracted to any club, and for him to come back with such exceptional performances is definitely a wonderful feeling, and he deserves every bit of those moments.”
