Akor Adams, the striker for Sevilla FC, has called on the Nigeria national football team to begin preparations immediately in order to avoid another disappointing absence from the FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament after a painful playoff defeat to long-time rivals Ghana. The three-time African champions also missed out on the upcoming 2026 edition—set to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States—following a penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African playoffs final last November.
Speaking on the team’s future, Adams emphasized the urgency of long-term planning and commitment.
“The players as well, we are motivated to see that we don’t disappoint ourselves and Nigerians for the third time,” he said.
“Because I think that would take a very big toll on Nigerian football.
“The preparation starts from now. It starts every day leading up to the World Cup 2030.”
Adams’ comments reflect growing concern within Nigerian football circles about maintaining the country’s global relevance, as missing three consecutive World Cups would mark an unprecedented setback for one of Africa’s most historically competitive teams.
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.
