'I Left My Club Just Two Weeks Ago' - Nigeria Captain Ahmed Musa Plays Down Fitness Concerns

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has played down concerns about his fitness before the national team's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The free agent who last wore the colours of Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia has been inactive since October 22, 2020 when he went the distance against Al-Taawon in the Saudi Pro League, raising genuine concerns regarding his match fitness.

Manager Gernot Rohr has kept faith with his captain since the start of the 2020-2021 season, naming him on both rosters for the friendlies with Algeria and Tunisia, as well as the AFCON qualifiers double header.

Asked at Thursday's press conference how he would blend with the Super Eagles team even though he's not affiliated with any club, Musa told reporters including allnigeriasoccer.com : "I was with the team for the last game, I left my club just two weeks ago. I have been with my club training for  two weeks before I came into Nigeria.

"I don't think there's anything important about that, so I am just here with the boys, everything is going on good."

The former Leicester City striker does not think that playing without spectators at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will pose a challenge to the Super Eagles players.

"From the beginning of the pandemic, right now most of us have been used to playing games without fans so we are going to get used to it.

"There's nothing we can do, it's not our fault, it's not the Federation, it is just because of the pandemic that we are facing.

"We are getting used to that but we hope very soon the fans will come back to the pitch to support us, it's not that easy but we have to get used to it," Musa added.

Igho Kingsley