Ahmed Musa: Cristiano Ronaldo’ s jersey is one of my most cherished souvenirs

EXCLUSIVE Before Ahmed Musa
moved to Russia last
season, the young
Nigerian had always
looked up to Real
Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as
his football idol. Wearing the same number seven jersey for his country, Musa was
the new kid on the block as he was snapped up
by VVV Venlo after breaking the 20 year-old
Nigeria Premier League scoring record at Kano
Pillars. By the time he moved to CSKA in January and
the opportunity to play against Ronaldo came
in the Uefa Champions League last-16 over two
legs a month later, Musa knew it was time to
meet his hero. Even though the Russian club lost 5-2 on
aggregate, it was an impressionable moment
for the young Nigerian winger. “I was so excited playing against my role
model,” Musa told Goal.com.” I felt very happy. After the game we talked and had a handshake
with a picture.” Musa did not stop there, he got Ronaldo’s
jersey and it is one of his most prized
possessions in life. “I have it in my home, when you come in you can
see it there on the wall,” he said. Being one of the most exciting young Nigerian
players in Europe, Musa will be among the team
that will attempt to secure Nigeria’s place in
next year’s Africa Cup of Nations when they
take on Liberia in final qualifiers in September
and October. It’s a match that Musa will be keen to win. “For me whenever I come home to play for my
fatherland I give it my all to see that I win the
game,” he said.