Sevilla forward Akor Adams has spoken candidly about his debut appearance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the experience as “one of the great privileges of my life yet” and thanking Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle for the opportunity.
Adams, who was first introduced to the Super Eagles setup during the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, carried that form into his maiden continental tournament. The Nigerian international finished the AFCON with three goals and two assists — a contribution that underlined why Chelle had faith in handing him a prominent role within the squad.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pulse Sports, Adams reflected on what it meant to represent Nigeria at that level. “For me, I honestly think it’s a very great privilege by the coach, Eric Chelle, to be called for the Nations Cup and to be given that role I was given,” he said. “I was very happy, very excited, grateful to God that I can represent Nigeria on an African stage. And, yeah, the rest is just what comes with the game.”
The striker also pointed to the broader quality within the Super Eagles squad as a key factor in his own performance, without singling out specific individuals. “If you play around good players and top players, you naturally will play good. And we have an unbelievable amount of good players in the Super Eagles. I wouldn’t name names,” Adams said. “We all know them. So, I’m grateful to be part of that group and to be able to play as much as I did. And to also give to the team what I did in the tournament. So, it’s one of the great privileges of my life yet.”
The Super Eagles squad that featured at the 2025 AFCON included high-profile names such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, both of whom are among the continent’s most recognised forwards. Adams’ ability to contribute meaningfully alongside such established talent will have strengthened his case for continued involvement under Chelle’s management.
Looking ahead, the Super Eagles are preparing for the Unity Cup in May, with Chelle expected to continue building cohesion within the group as Nigeria also sets its sights on qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Adams, for his part, has already indicated his ambitions extend well beyond this tournament, having previously issued a public statement about preparing for the 2030 edition of the global showpiece.
At club level, Adams has been operating in La Liga with Sevilla, where his performances attracted Chelle’s attention in the first place. His AFCON statistics — three goals and two assists across the tournament — represent a solid return and will likely see him remain in contention for Super Eagles selection in the upcoming fixtures.
