Akor Adams marks Super Eagles call-up with goal in Sevilla’s rout of Barcelona

By Dayo Awoniyi

Akor Adams celebrated his maiden call-up to the Super Eagles in unforgettable fashion, scoring a late goal as Sevilla thrashed FC Barcelona 4–1 in a dominant La Liga performance at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium on Sunday.

The Nigerian striker sealed the emphatic win in stoppage time, finishing coolly in the 90+6th minute after being set up by compatriot Chidera Ejuke.

The goal, his first against the Spanish champions, capped off a memorable evening and underlined his growing form just days before Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Sevilla set the tone early, taking control of the game from the first whistle. Bryan Sánchez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 13th minute, and Romero doubled the lead with a clinical finish in the 36th.

Barcelona briefly hinted at a comeback when Marcus Rashford pulled one back in first-half stoppage time (45+7’), but the hosts remained in control. J. Ángel Carmona made it 3–1 in the 90th minute before Adams applied the final blow deep into stoppage time.

Speaking ahead of the game, Adams had confidently stated, “I think I have the ability to score in every game if I have the opportunities.”

The 24-year-old certainly lived up to his words, notching his second goal in as many league matches after scoring the winner against Rayo Vallecano last weekend.

The goal provides a timely confidence boost as he prepares to join up with the Super Eagles squad for Nigeria’s crucial qualifiers against Lesotho (October 10) and Benin Republic (October 16).

Coach Eric Sekou Chelle will be buoyed by Adams’ form, as the team looks to close the gap in Group C and stay in contention for a place at the 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Ejuke also impressed during a late cameo, his assist and energy reinforcing the growing impact of Nigerian players in Europe’s top leagues.

For Sevilla, the victory was a statement performance — lifting morale and reaffirming their attacking prowess. For Barcelona, the heavy defeat served as a sobering reminder of vulnerabilities yet to be addressed.

Adams is expected to report to the Super Eagles camp on Monday as preparations intensify for the double-header that could define Nigeria’s qualification hopes.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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