As the Nigeria Professional Football League nears its resumption, we examine the impact Ahmed Musa’s return to Kano Pillars could have on the competition.
A few weeks ago, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa completed a sensational return to his former team Kano Pillars, causing a big buzz in the Nigerian football scene. Musa had been without a club since he left the Saudi Arabian team, Al Nassr in October 2020, but he rejoined Pillars in April 2021 on a short term deal that runs till the end of the current season.
Before putting pen to paper with Pillars, the former CSKA Moscow forward was on the verge of making a return to the English Premier League where he has previously had a stint with Leicester City.
Relegation battlers, West Bromwich Albion were said to be interested in the Eagles star, but that move fell through at the final moments owing to financial disagreements.
Unsurprisingly, Musa’s return to Pillars has sparked a lot of divergent opinions all over the country. Many fans have been full of praise for the Eagles skipper for re-joining the team where he made his name all those years ago, stating that such a big name in the NPFL will boost the profile of the league.
However, a few observers took the more cynical view of the transfer, arguing that it was a move to advance Musa’s personal course- especially as it concerns his place in the national team- rather than a burning desire to help the league grow.
Whichever way one looks at it, it is hard to argue against the stance that this is a win-win situation for all the parties involved.
For Musa, the move affords him a chance to stay in shape for the World Cup qualifiers which kick off later in the year. It will also provide a veritable platform for the player to show other suitors his abilities as he looks to get back to playing top-class football in Europe.
Having said that, his presence at Kano Pillars will also rub off on the rest of his teammates.
Kano Pillars are in running for the title this season, having ended the first phase of the league as one of the front runners for the title. The acquisition of the former Leicester forward has no doubt strengthened their charge for the top prize, so much so that many bookies are backing the Sai Masu Gida as the favourites for the Nigeria Professional Football League title.
If you fancy a punt at Musa leading Pillars to the Nigerian title, NPFL betting is available on big sites like bet9ja.
Additionally, the Kano Pillars brand will benefit immensely from the popularity of the Super Eagles captain. This could open a floodgate of potential sponsors who will be looking to leverage on Musa’s presence in the team.
The league itself also stands to gain some traction with this development. With a handful of games on digital streaming platforms, the NPFL is set for a substantial windfall from an increase in subscribers. There will be a rise in coverage both locally and beyond the borders of the country.
While Musa is not the first high profile international to return to the league, he is undoubtedly the biggest name to grace the NPFL in recent times. This is a big achievement for the LMC, the NPFL and all stakeholders involved in brokering the deal.
Musa’s presence could also be the cue for the Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr, to pay more attention to the league. Rohr has not been the biggest fan of the NPFL, but the presence of the national captain could draw the manager closer to the competition and create more opportunities for local talents like Anayo Iwuala to get into the Eagles fold.
Ahmed Musa’s move back home albeit for a short while is significant in more ways than one and Nigerian football is the biggest winner here.
