Akor Adams: El Gran Derbi Is More Than Football — It’s Pure Passion

Nigeria and Sevilla FC forward Akor Adams has delivered a powerful reflection on the intensity of El Gran Derbi, describing the iconic showdown against Real Betis as an experience that goes far beyond the game itself.

Speaking during an interactive session organised by LaLiga on Tuesday, the Nigerian striker highlighted the emotional and cultural weight of the historic fixture, which famously divides the city of Seville.

“Some things in life can’t really be explained—you just have to experience them,” Adams said. “El Gran Derbi is one of those moments. It’s not just about the points; it’s pure football and passion from both sets of fans and the entire city.”

The fierce rivalry between Sevilla and Betis slightly tilts in Sevilla’s favour. Since their first LaLiga clash in February 1935—a 3-0 win for Betis—the two sides have met 109 times in the competition. Sevilla have claimed 50 victories, while Betis have 32 wins, with 27 encounters ending in draws.

Although Adams is still searching for his first derby goal, he made a strong impact in the March 2026 meeting. The 26-year-old forward was a constant threat, testing the goalkeeper in the 77th minute before seeing a dramatic late effort cleared off the line in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

Reflecting on that encounter, Adams emphasised how unpredictable and electrifying the derby can be.

“As a footballer, you can only prepare so much. What happens on matchday is entirely different,” he said. “We came back from 2-0 down and nearly won it at the end. It was a fantastic experience, especially playing away.”

He also stressed that the atmosphere surrounding El Gran Derbi is something every football fan should witness at least once.

“It’s an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime,” he added.

Adams has been a key figure for Sevilla this season, contributing eight goals and three assists in 26 LaLiga appearances. His performances have also earned him a nomination for the 2025/26 SPORTY LaLiga MVP award, which recognises the best African player in Spain’s top flight.

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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