Ahmed Musa: Scout Report

Style, Strengths & Weaknesses

African footballers are often blessed with a commendable physical ability owing to the conditions they grow up in; their technical knowledge is learnt through a proper football education. But the foundations for their playing style is, more often than not, naturally gifted to them.

Ahmed Musa’s most notable resource is his natural pace. The youngster is gifted with a winger’s speed, allowing him to effectively run at defenders and take the opposition on. While it may not be evident off-the-ball, with the possession at his feet, Musa has an incredible burst of energy and pace, which sets him apart from the rest of the players. Questions have been asked often what is the most important asset for a footballer; when it comes to a winger (or any non-target man attacker), it has to be said that speed is pivotal. Even if the winger lacks certain attributes elsewhere, natural pace will always be beneficial.

His quick footwork and dribbling skills complement his ability to be deployed as a winger, and further increase his opportunity to take on defenders. Although he often lacks the delicate touch and prevents him from being a more compelling winger, once he does manage to get the ball under control, he showcases awe-inspiring close control and composure. Musa prefers to use his pace to chase the ball even while in possession, rather than it moving in tandem with his speed.

The Nigerian has a reputation of being a more dynamic attacker back in the Russian Premier League with CSKA Moscow, but at this summers’ Confederations Cup in Brazil, he played a more restrained game. The 20-year-old was often seen hugging the touchline and providing width to the side; it was only against the minnows (Tahiti) that he showcased some movement, opting to switch flanks and cutting inside. But in an era where wingers often switch narrower around the box, Musa is a breath of ‘different’ air as he’s rarely seen cutting inside.

Ahmed Musa frequently displays his quickness in a mental sense as well. He’ll chase down opponents in an attacking zone, but would seldom charge from the back to close opponents down. Nevertheless, this mental quickness helps him in reading the game and making interceptions. Against Tahiti he quickly pounced on a weak pass in the defence, taking possession and setting up the 2nd goal. His positioning when his side is in an attacking phase is admirable as well. He offers his team an option going forward, providing width in behind the defence.

Musa is often guilty of venturing on a brilliant run forward, getting past defenders but failing to do anything meaningful inside the box. His end product, unlike his efforts prior to it, is surprisingly poor. It’s the part of his game that needs most attention on the training ground; he could be the complete product if he is able to adequately improve it.

Like most young wingers, Musa too is invisible in a defensive sense. He does track back occasionally and is able to make the opposition player uncomfortable on the ball, but he doesn’t do it regularly enough. Another drawback of Ahmed Musa, possibly owing to his quick pace, is that he gets behind the defence too quickly, too soon. He manages to get caught offside regularly throughout the 90 minutes which can get frustrating for his team, as it’s a cheap way of conceding possession. The youngster is also fairly short, just 5 feet 7 inches, thus aerially he doesn’t offer anything while is redundant for corners as well, opting to position himself outside the box to collect the second ball.

It must be said where his lack of end product and poor first touch is combined, Musa may sometimes be guilty of not getting into the box as often as his coaches would have like. His game thus, is best played between the half-way line and the penalty area against the touchline.