He Could Wear the National Team Jersey for the First Time.
Akor Adams was on the verge of making his debut for the Super Eagles after receiving his first call-up to the Nigerian national team.
The Sevilla striker was included in Nigeria’s 39-man preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. However, his club, Sevilla, may prevent him from joining the national team.
Sevilla’s Concern Over Injury
Sevilla head coach García Pimienta has stated that the Nigerian forward must receive medical clearance from the club before joining the national team. The 25-year-old player is currently recovering from an injury, and Sevilla does not want him to return to action before he is fully fit.
In an interview with Marca, García Pimienta confirmed that Akor Adams has started rehabilitation with the medical staff. However, he emphasized that the striker should not join the national team unless he is fully fit:
“To go with the national team, I understand that he should first be cleared by Sevilla.“
“If for whatever reason this week, when he is not called up, and next week he is not there, he could not go with the national team because he would not have the competitive clearance, but that depends on the medical services.“
“I understand that they will want to call him up, but for that to happen he has to be 100 percent. He should help us first.“
Sevilla’s Attacking Struggles
Sevilla has struggled with attacking depth this season. Their main striker, Youssef En-Nesyri, joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe during the summer transfer window. His replacement, Kelechi Iheanacho, later moved to Middlesbrough, leaving Isaac Romero as the only fit center-forward at the club.
To address this issue, Sevilla signed Adams from Montpellier in January for €5.5 million. However, the Nigerian striker has only managed to play nine minutes due to a myofascial injury in the rectus femoris muscle. This is why Sevilla is prioritizing his full recovery before allowing him to play.
Nigeria Has Strong Forward Options
Despite Adams’ potential absence, the Nigerian national team appears to have enough quality attacking options.
With players like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Paul Onuachu, and Cyriel Dessers in the squad, the Super Eagles should not struggle to fill the void.