Nigeria forward Akor Adams has revealed the meaning behind his widely discussed goal celebration during Nigeria’s clash with Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Sevilla striker scored Nigeria’s second goal against the Desert Foxes and followed it up with a distinctive celebration that quickly sparked conversations across social media and among fans.
Speaking after the match, Adams explained that the gesture was intentional and carried a message that went beyond football.
“My celebration in the previous game was intentional—you don’t kick someone when they’re down,” Adams said. “It was a tribute to Congolese fan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, known as ‘Lumumba’.”
The 24-year-old added that the celebration was a mark of respect and solidarity, reflecting the importance of empathy and humanity even in the intensity of competition.
Adams’ goal helped Nigeria maintain their strong run at the tournament, while his explanation has since drawn widespread praise from supporters, many of whom have applauded the striker for using the AFCON platform to convey a powerful and compassionate message.
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.
