Former international winger, Dimeji Lawal has backed the recall of Nigeria’s most capped player, Ahmed Musa to the Super Eagles, ahead of this month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Sports247 reports.
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In contrast with heated criticism of Eagles’ coach, Eric Sekou Chelle for including Musa’s name in his 39-player list for the games in Kigali on March 21st and Uyo on March 25th, Lawal stressed that the former CSKA Moscow of Russia, Leicester City of England and Kayserispor of Turkey fleet-footed winger deserves his recall on the strength of his recent sterling performances in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Lawal slammed repeated condemnation of home-based players by Nigerian football fans, which he believes is the major reason why people are speaking against the invitation of Musa, who has been in tremendous form since returning home to register for Kano Pillars, the club that shot him to limelight in 2009.
Dimeji Lawal, who was a member of Nigeria’s silver-winning squad at the 1987 FIFA U17 World Cup in Canada, however, acknowledged confusion in reports about Chelle’s explanation of Musa’s invitation, and urged the gaffer to state categorically whether the veteran skipper has been called up to motivate the other players or to play.
He declared: “We first read that Ahmed Musa was invited, but later we heard that the coach debunked it. He said he did not invite Ahmed Musa to come and play; but invited him as a senior member of the team to come and boost the morale of the players.
“Whatever it is, all in all, what we are looking for is the best legs at this particular time. In all honesty, if you look at the performance of Ahmed Musa in the league, you will see that he deserves a call-up. That’s my own opinion.”
The former right side winger of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan and Compostella of Spain then hailed improved standards in the NPFL and used Musa as a reference point to the quality of talents that must not be overlooked in the domestic league.
“Ahmed Musa deserves his inclusion; unless you want to tell me Nigeria is no longer on the map of global football. Why is it that anything that has to do with home-based players, people write it off? They easily condemn it. Ahmed Musa is not playing outside the country. He’s playing within, and he’s playing so well. I think that is enough for him to be called up,” Lawal stressed.
