Interim coach of the Super Eagles, Austin Eguavoen, has explained why he invited Ahmed Musa for this month’s World Cup playoffs against Ghana.

Eguavoen has been criticized in some quarters for inviting the 29-year-old Fatih Karagümrük winger.

However, he has defended his decision and claimed it is a tradition in the national team.

“We are from a country that doesn’t forget tradition, we don’t forget history. These are things we did for late Keshi, 1994 he wasn’t playing but he was our leader. These are things we did for people like Peter Rufai, Joseph Yobo.

“He has agreed that after the World Cup he’s going to retire. We will still accord him that respect and honour because he’s got a major role to play in the team.

“Ahmed Musa has got some leadership qualities whether we like or not as well but he can always give us some good 45-60 minutes when it becomes really necessary, that is why we try to see how we can help him honourably leave the scene hopefully after the World Cup,” Eguavoen said.

Musa is Nigeria’s most capped male player with 103 games for the Super Eagles.