Akor Adams has described representing the Nigeria national football team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as a “great privilege” despite the team falling short of winning the title.
The Sevilla FC striker played a key role for the Super Eagles during the tournament, scoring an important goal in Nigeria’s 2–0 quarter-final victory over the Algerian national football team.
His overall performance helped Nigeria finish third in the competition, with his strike also recognised among the top five goals of the tournament.
Speaking in an interview with Estadio Deportivo, Adams admitted he was disappointed that the Super Eagles could not go all the way to win the tournament but described the experience as an important milestone in his career.
“I think my confidence was already good. But playing in the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria was a great privilege, something I’m very grateful for,” Adams said.
“I was able to play every match and experience the whole thing. It’s a shame we couldn’t win the tournament, but it was a very important step in my career.”
The forward also praised the support he received from his club after the tournament in Morocco.
“I feel it from the club, the sporting director, and the coach. It’s very positive. I try to work hard every day, not only to fulfill my obligations to the team, but also to fulfill my own goals and objectives. Having that confidence in me is something I’m grateful for,” he added.
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.
