Akor Adams Ends 12-Year Nigerian Drought With 10th LaLiga Goal, Joins Finidi George in Elite Club

Akor Adams etched his name into the history books of Spanish football on May 13, 2026, when the Sevilla forward scored against Villarreal to reach 10 LaLiga goals for the season — a milestone no Nigerian player had achieved in 12 years.

The 26-year-old’s decisive strike came in a match that carried added significance beyond the three points. Adams was lining up directly against Villarreal’s Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe, with both players nominated for the 2026 LaLiga African MVP award. It was Adams who proved the difference, breaking through the Villarreal defence in a late intervention that has become something of a trademark for the former Montpellier striker this season.

In doing so, Adams joined an exclusive group of only four Nigerians to have scored 10 or more goals in a single LaLiga campaign. The list is brief but decorated. Christopher Ohen, who played for SD Compostela, remains the benchmark — the highest-scoring Nigerian in a single LaLiga season — with 17 goals in 1996/97 and 14 in 1994/95. Finidi George, the legendary Super Eagles winger now serving as Nigeria’s national team coach, scored 11 goals in a standout 1998/99 campaign with Real Betis. Ikechukwu Uche achieved the feat on three separate occasions: with Recreativo in 2006/07, Getafe in 2008/09, and most recently with Villarreal in 2013/14, when he netted 14 times — making him the last Nigerian to hit double figures in the division before Adams’ achievement.

Sevilla FC acknowledged the moment on social media, posting a tribute to Adams following the Villarreal fixture, captioned “United Forever Until The End.”

The milestone places Adams firmly in contention for the LaLiga African MVP award, a prize previously won by fellow Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze. His impact on Sevilla’s season has been considerable, with his ability to influence matches in their closing stages proving a consistent factor in the club’s results.

With several matches still to play in the 2025/26 LaLiga season, Adams stands within reach of surpassing Finidi George’s tally of 11 goals. Should he do so, he would become the third most prolific Nigerian in a single LaLiga campaign — behind only Uche’s 14-goal haul for Villarreal and Ohen’s record-setting 17.

Sevilla’s head coach has already publicly acknowledged Adams’ contribution, reportedly describing the striker as “phenomenal” following his recent run of form. The timing of Adams’ hot streak is also notable from an international perspective, with the performances arriving ahead of an upcoming Super Eagles international break — likely to strengthen his standing in the national team setup under coach Finidi George, the very player whose single-season goal record Adams is now targeting.