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When the Super Eagles squad list for AFCON 2025 dropped, most of the headlines focused on the usual stars – Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and the returning midfield general Wilfred Ndidi. Buried beneath the noise was a name many Nigerian fans recognised but hadn’t fully embraced: Akor Jerome Adams.
Fast forward to the knockout stages of the tournament, and that same name is now echoing across stadiums in Morocco, trending on Nigerian social media, and forcing pundits to rewrite their predictions. Akor Adams has become the breakout story of AFCON 2025 – a tale of hunger, timing, and a footballer who refused to stay in the shadows.
Akor’s rise has never been straightforward. Born in Nigeria but molded in the competitive world of Scandinavian football, he built his reputation quietly. First in Norway, then in France. While other Nigerian forwards grabbed headlines with big?money moves and flashy performances, Akor was grinding, improving, and waiting for the moment the world would finally look his way.
That moment arrived in Morocco.
Eric Chelle, Nigeria’s head coach, saw something in him that many overlooked: a striker who blends physicality with intelligence, aggression with discipline, and raw power with surprising finesse.
Chelle didn’t bring him to AFCON to make up the numbers. He brought him because he knew Nigeria needed a different kind of weapon.
Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad is built on intensity, structure, and relentless pressure. Chelle’s system demands forwards who can: Press aggressively, hold up play, attack space, win duels and stretch defenses. Akor does all of that – and he does it with a hunger that energises the entire team.
While Osimhen is the talisman, Akor is the disruptor. He creates chaos, forces mistake, gives Nigeria a Plan B that feels just as dangerous as Plan A. And perhaps most importantly, he plays without fear.
Speak to anyone in the Super Eagles camp and they will tell you the same thing: Akor Adams is obsessed with improvement. This mentality is what separates him from the pack. He’s talented and intentional.
In a squad filled with stars, Akor stands out because he carries the energy of a man who knows he has something to prove.
For years, Nigeria have been blessed with attacking talent – Yekini, Aghahowa, Martins, Aiyegbeni, Kanu, Ighalo, Osimhen. But depth has often been a concern.
Akor Adams changes that conversation. He represents a new generation of Nigerian forwards who are:
- Physically dominant
- Tactically intelligent
- Technically sharp
- Mentally resilient
Nigeria’s path to the final is filled with challenges. Morocco, Egypt and Senegal stand in the way. But with Akor Adams emerging as a reliable weapon, the Super Eagles suddenly look deeper, more unpredictable, and more dangerous.
If Nigeria lift the trophy, Akor’s name will be etched into the story of the tournament.
If they fall short, his rise will still be one of AFCON 2025’s defining narratives.
Either way, the world is watching now.
