Maybe only a prophet could have seen the revelation that Ahmed Musa will return to Kano Pillars because, for most Nigerian football fans, his return came as a surprise.
Ahmed Musa, the only household name in the Super Eagles at the moment, having played in some of the finest clubs in Europe has decided to return to Kano Pillars where he gained popularity locally before moving to Europe in 2011.
Ahmed Musa played for VVV Venlo CSKA Moscow, Leicester City, and Al Nassr where he last played before ending his contract with the Saudi Arabian-based club last year.
In recent times, top Super Eagles players who have once played in Europe often chose to play in China, or other parts of Asia in the later stage of their career.
Ahmed Musa’s return to Kano Pillars where he scored 18 goals in the 2009/2010 season seems to be the first in a while.
Here are two former Super Eagles captain who moved from Europe to the Nigerian league
1. The Late Rashidi Yekini
Born and bred in Kaduna, Nigeria’s all-time top scorer played for UNTL Kaduna, Shooting Stars where he scored 45 goals in 53 appearances between 1982 and 1984, an Abiola Babes (1984-1987).
Rashidi Yekini played a good number of clubs in Europe but unarguably, his most successful spell was at Vitoria Setubal in Portugal where he scored 94 league goals in 128 appearances.
However, he returned to the Nigerian Premier League as it was called then in 2002. He joined Julius Berger before playing for Gateway United where he bagged 7 league goals in 26 appearances.
2. Daniel Amokachi
He was referred to as Dan “The Bull” Amokachi given his physique and his energetic style of play. He grew up in Kaduna just like Yekini, Amokachi played for Ranchers Bees between 1989 and 1990 before jetting off to Europe to play for Club Brugge where he had his most successful stint with 35 goals in 81 appearances.
He went on to play for Everton in the English Premier League, Besiktas, and Colorado Rapids in the United States before moving back to the local league where played for Nasarawa United in 2005.
He ventured into coaching and he managed the likes of Nasarawa United (2006), Enyimba, (2008), and Ifeanyi Ubah (2015).
Ahmed Musa has followed the footprints of his predecessors and his homecoming to Kano Pillars might be a sign of good things to come not just for the former NPFL champions.
