Akor Adams has never lost sight of what the Super Eagles shirt means and he wants to make sure that clarity translates into results when it matters most, Footynaija.com reports.
The Sevilla striker has been building his reputation in LaLiga, but it’s his international commitments that draw the most personal reflection.
Speaking as revealed by Pulse Sports, Adams addressed both the honour of representing Nigeria and the pressure that comes with it, as Eric Chelle’s side look to end a run of two consecutive World Cup absences.
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“I’m privileged to play for Sevilla, don’t get me wrong,” Adams said, “but playing for Nigeria is the greatest pride I have felt, for myself, for my family. It’s a privilege. It’s a responsibility as well, and I’m very aware of that.”
That awareness runs through everything he says about the national team. Nigeria missed out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia and were eliminated at the play-off stage ahead of Qatar 2022, and the accumulated weight of those failures is not lost on the current squad.
“The players as well, we are motivated to see that we don’t disappoint ourselves and Nigerians for the third time,” Adams said.
“Because I think that would take a very big toll on Nigerian football.”
It’s a sobering assessment, and an honest one. A third consecutive absence from the World Cup finals would represent a setback for a footballing nation of Nigeria’s size and ambition, and Adams understands that better than most.
The response, he insists, has to be deliberate and long-term.
“The preparation starts from now,” he said.
“It starts every day leading up to the World Cup 2030.”
That kind of daily commitment is central to what Chelle has been asking of his players since taking charge, and Adams’ framing suggests the message has landed.
The work isn’t confined to international windows; it’s something the players are expected to carry into their clubs and bring back sharper each time they converge.
Adams, for his part, isn’t dwelling on the weight of the task.
“But we look forward to it,” he said, “and we try to rewrite the story.”
The story he’s referring to is two qualifying campaigns that ended in disappointment. Whether this group, under Chelle’s guidance, can write a different ending remains to be seen but the conviction, at least, is genuine.
