Nigeria: Akor Adams dedicates maiden AFCON goal to hospitalised mother

Sevilla forward Akor Adams has dedicated his first Africa Cup of Nations goal to his mother after Nigeria overwhelmed Mozambique 4–0 in the Morocco 2025 round‑of‑16 clash at Complexe Sportif de Fès on 5 January 2026.

The 25‑year‑old scored the final goal in the 75th minute, adding to a brace from Victor Osimhen and an opener from Ademola Lookman, as Nigeria advanced to the quarter‑finals.

Adams told reporters that his mother was admitted to hospital on the morning of the match and could not attend; he therefore dedicated the goal to her and said she is recovering.The story was first reported by Daily Post.

Nigeria cruise into last eight

• Early dominance:  Nigeria pressed from kickoff and took control through a 20‑minute finish by winger Ademola Lookman. Osimhen doubled the lead five minutes later after racing onto an Akor Adams pass. The teams went into the break at 2–0, reflecting Nigeria’s territorial dominance.

• Osimhen brace:  Shortly after the restart, Lookman turned provider, sliding a pass across goal for Osimhen to complete his brace in the 47th minute.

• Adams seals victory:  With Mozambique offering little response, Lookman delivered another pinpoint pass in the 75th minute. Adams latched onto the ball to drill home his first AFCON goal, capping a dominant team display.

  
  

  • He had earlier supplied the cut‑back for Lookman’s opener and played a key role in Osimhen’s first strike.

Post‑match reaction

Adams said he felt “glory to God” after scoring and that the goal was for his mother: “She’s supposed to be here, but she’s in the hospital right now. She was admitted this morning, but she’s much better now,” he told journalists. He also praised teammates Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman for their performances.

Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, cautioned that the team must maintain their focus despite the convincing win. “We have done nothing yet. If we want to be ambitious, we must continue to improve,” he told CAF’s media after the match. Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde admitted his side were outplayed and congratulated Nigeria.

Tournament implications and player background

• Quarter‑final ahead:  The victory booked Nigeria’s place in the quarter‑finals. They will meet either Algeria or DR Congo on 10 January 2026, with the venue to be confirmed.

• Adams’ credentials:  Born on 29 January 2000 in Kogi State, Adams stands 1.90 m tall and plays as a centre‑forward. He joined Sevilla FC from Montpellier on 27 January 2025 on a contract running until 2029.

  
  

  • The striker has eight senior caps for Nigeria, scoring three goals.

  • Adams debuted for the national team in October 2025 and scored in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Lesotho (a background fact predating 2026).

  • Prior to moving to Spain, he scored 10 goals and two assists in his debut season for Montpellier.

Why it matters

Adams’ gesture underscores the personal sacrifices often made by top athletes and adds a human element to Nigeria’s push for a fourth continental title.His goal and two assists highlight his growing importance to the Super Eagles, who have scored freely at this tournament. Nigeria’s comprehensive win also sets up a challenging quarter‑final against one of Africa’s heavyweights, Algeria or DR Congo, as they continue their pursuit of AFCON glory.

Source: Daily Post