Akor Adams Forced To Leave Nigeria Camp At AFCON 2025 Due To Off-Field Reasons

 

Just as his name was starting to gain weight inside Nigeria’s attack, an off-the-field situation forces an unexpected pause at a crucial stage of the tournament.

Nigeria continue their strong run at the AFCON 2025, but football sometimes takes a back seat. At a key moment of the competition, the Super Eagles were hit by unexpected news: one of their most in-form attackers had to step away from the squad just as his influence was beginning to grow.

In a tournament where momentum, focus and emotional balance are everything, any off-field disruption is felt deeply. Even more so when it involves a player who was delivering on the pitch and earning his place among Nigeria’s most trusted attacking options.


A Personal Situation That Changes The Picture

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday that Akor Adams has temporarily left the national team camp. The reason is personal: his mother was hospitalized, and the striker was granted permission to travel and be with her.

The decision was made with full support from the coaching staff. Nigeria made it clear that Adams’ absence is temporary, with the expectation that he will rejoin the squad once the situation allows. For now, the priority goes beyond football.


Performances That Made Him Stand Out

What makes this absence particularly notable is the form Akor Adams was showing at the AFCON. The forward has already recorded 1 goal and 2 assists, numbers that underline his growing importance within the Nigerian setup.

His standout performance came in the emphatic 4–0 win over Mozambique, where he found the net with a powerful strike and played a key role in Nigeria’s attacking flow. The Super Eagles currently boast the most productive attack of the tournament, and Adams has been a central part of that success.


Matching Nigeria’s Biggest Stars

In a squad filled with elite talent, breaking through is never easy. Yet Akor Adams has managed to perform at the level of established stars like Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.

Beyond goals and assists, his movement, physical presence and ability to combine with teammates have given Nigeria more attacking variety. His rise has added another layer to a frontline that already strikes fear across the continent.

Nigeria Await His Return For The Knockout Stage

Nigeria now turn their attention to the quarterfinal clash against Angola, scheduled for Saturday the 10th at 17:00. While preparations continue, the squad remains hopeful that Akor Adams will be able to return in time for the decisive stages.

As the AFCON enters its most demanding phase, Nigeria know that regaining a player in rhythm and full confidence could make all the difference. And based on what he had shown so far, Adams was ready to play a major role.

By Antonio Medina, beinSPORTS

Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique - Super Eagles cruise into quarter-finals

Nigeria swept into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique in Fes.

The Super Eagles were on top from the off, and talisman Victor Osimhen had an effort ruled out for offside within the first two minutes.

Their pressure eventually told in the 20th minute as Ademola Lookman curled home from Akor Adams' cutback to break the deadlock.

Five minutes later Osimhen doubled the advantage, turning in after Alex Iwobi's incisive play through midfield released Lookman and his ball across took a deflection off Adams.

Mozambique, making their first appearance in the knockout stage, struggled to contain Nigeria's relentless attack and offered little threat going forward.

Osimhen made it 3-0 early in the second half, tapping in from Lookman's clever ball across from the left at the back post to score his second of the night.

Adams then capped a fine individual display, firing in Nigeria's fourth in the 75th minute after more good work by Lookman.

Nigeria, who could have added more, now await Algeria or DR Congo in Saturday's quarter-final tie in Marrakech (16:00 GMT).

Nigeria are looking to go one better than the 2023 edition, where they finished as runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast, and entered the knockout stage in Morocco as one of two sides with a perfect record alongside Algeria.

Yet the last time the three-time champions started an Afcon so well, in 2021, they exited in the last 16 against Tunisia.

Eric Chelle's side managed to survive that fate against Mozambique as they put in a performance which underlined their credentials as a challenger for the trophy, becoming the first side to score four goals in a game at this year's edition of the finals.

Iwobi was a hub of creativity, Lookman and Adams were full of invention as they terrorised the Mozambique defence, and Galatasaray front man Osimhen will have boosted his confidence with two goals from close range.

Nigeria continued to pour forward in search of more goals and Mambas goalkeeper Ernan was kept busy before being forced off with injury in the closing stages.

A first clean sheet in six outings at the finals - having conceded four times in the group stage - will also be a point of pride for the West Africans before their last-eight tie.

Yet Nigeria's performance so far at this tournament may not be enough to atone for the disappointment felt by their fans for the team's failure to deliver qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

The Super Eagles may yet get the chance to gain revenge over DR Congo, who beat them on penalties in the continent's play-off final in November, while a meeting with Algeria will see a repeat of the Afcon 2019 semi-final which the North Africans won.

By Emmanuel Akindubuwa, BBC

Osimhen double for Nigeria downs Mozambique to seal AFCON quarterfinal spot

Victor Osimhen scored twice as Nigeria made short work of Mozambique at the Africa Cup of Nations, cruising into the quarterfinals with a comprehensive 4-0 victory in their last-16 tie.

Ademola Lookman, a former winner of the African footballer of the year award, like Osimhen, opened the scoring after 20 minutes in Fes on Monday and helped set up the other three goals on the night.

Osimhen had started the game without wearing his trademark mask, but restored the face covering before netting Nigeria’s second goal on 25 minutes. He then scored again just after half-time before Akor Adams sealed the win.

It is the biggest winning margin in an AFCON knockout tie since Egypt hammered Algeria 4-0 in the semifinals at the 2010 tournament in Angola.

Determined to make up for their failure to qualify for the World Cup, the Super Eagles march on to a last-eight tie on Saturday in Marrakesh against either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The teams clash in the last 16 on Tuesday, and a victory in the game for the DRC would offer Nigeria a chance to avenge their defeat on penalties against the Leopards in a World Cup qualifying playoff in November.

Mozambique appeared in the knockout phase of an AFCON for the first time after advancing as one of the best third-placed sides in the group stage.

They were no match for a Nigerian team that was much-changed from their final group game, when coach Eric Chelle offered a chance to several fringe players for a 3-1 victory against Uganda.

Atalanta forward Lookman, who scored in the 3-2 win over Tunisia in the second group match, was among those brought back into the lineup, and Africa’s best player in 2024 gave his team the lead as the midway point in the first half approached.

Alex Iwobi’s through ball released Adams on the left side of the box, and his cutback was converted first-time by Lookman.

The 28-year-old then turned provider, with his cross from the left in the 25th minute being helped on by Adams, for Osimhen to poke the ball in from close range.

The Galatasaray striker emerged unscathed soon after that, despite going into a challenge with Witi, which saw the Mozambique player knee Osimhen in the stomach.

Lookman’s low ball across the face of goal from the left was finished off by Osimhen to make it 3-0 in the 47th minute and end any prospect of a Mozambique comeback.

The 2023 African player of the year had gone seven AFCON matches without scoring before netting against Tunisia in the group stage. He now has three to his name at the tournament in Morocco.

Lookman was not finished for the night as he supplied Adams inside the box with a quarter of an hour remaining, and the Sevilla forward rifled a shot high into the net.

Earlier in the day, Egypt needed extra time to overcome Benin 3-1 to book their place in the next round, where either Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso await.

Al Jazeera