Akor Adams Dedicates First AFCON Goal to Mother After Super Eagles’ Rout of Mozambique

Akor Adams marked a memorable milestone in his international career as he scored his first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) goal during Nigeria’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Mozambique on Monday night, a result that sealed the Super Eagles’ place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 tournament.

The striker was on target in a dominant display by Nigeria at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, capping off a performance that underlined the Super Eagles’ growing confidence and attacking depth in Morocco.

Speaking after the match, Adams expressed gratitude for the moment and revealed the personal significance behind his goal.

“First, glory to God for the privilege to have my first AFCON goal like all of you have been waiting for,” Adams said. “But the goal is dedicated to my mom.”

He went on to explain that his mother was unable to be at the stadium due to health reasons.

“She’s supposed to be here, but she’s in the hospital right now. She was admitted this morning, but she’s much better now. I’m happy for the team,” he added.

Adams also addressed the brief on-field misunderstanding between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman that attracted attention during the game, playing down its significance and stressing the unity within the squad.

“Victor had a fantastic game. Lookman had a fantastic game. So, we came out with the victory and we’re happy,” he said.

On the pitch, Nigeria were in complete control. Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Osimhen struck twice to put the game beyond Mozambique early in the second half. Adams then completed the rout in the 75th minute with a composed finish to register his maiden AFCON goal.

The comprehensive win not only handed the Super Eagles their first clean sheet of the tournament but also reinforced their status as strong contenders for the title.

Nigeria will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals in Marrakech, where they are set to face Algeria, as they look to maintain their flawless run and push closer to continental glory.

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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