Sevilla boss reveals why Akor Adams may be blocked from honouring first Super Eagles call-up

Akor Adams‘ long-held dream of making his Super Eagles debut may have to be put on hold during the next international window as Sevilla are not pleased with his call-up, Soccernet.ng reports.

Sevilla manager García Pimienta has made it clear that Nigerian striker Akor Adams must be medically cleared by the club before he can join the Super Eagles for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Despite currently recovering from an injury, Adams was named in Nigeria’s 39-man preliminary squad for the crucial fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Roster for #2026WCQ vs Rwanda and Zimbabwe #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/rljpOZkyyd

— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 4, 2025

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However, his participation remains uncertain, with Sevilla keen to ensure he is fully fit before returning to competitive action.

Pimienta confirmed that Adams has resumed rehabilitation with the club’s medical staff but remained firm on his stance regarding the striker’s fitness.

“To go with the national team, I understand that he should first be cleared by Sevilla,” Pimienta said of the former Montpellier forward, as per Marca.

“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,” Pimienta stated ahead of Sevilla’s La Liga match against Real Sociedad.

⚽ Jay-Jay Okocha (1998)
⚽⚽ Victor Osimhen (2019)
⚽ Terem Moffi (2020)
⚽ ⚽ Akor Adams (2023)

Akor Adams is the latest Nigerian to score on his Ligue 1 debut! pic.twitter.com/ZqN9vaxMIk

— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) August 14, 2023

Sevilla’s striking options have been severely limited since the departure of Youssef En-Nesyri last summer.

Kelechi Iheanacho, brought in as his replacement, has departed for Middlesbrough, leaving academy graduate Isaac Romero as the club’s only fit centre-forward.

The Spanish side attempted to strengthen their attack in January, signing Adams from Montpellier for €5.5 million. However, the 24-year-old has only played nine minutes for Sevilla due to a myofascial injury to the rectus femoris muscle, which has sidelined him for the past month.

The Nigerian forward made his debut for Sevilla in early February against Getafe but suffered the injury shortly after, disrupting his integration into the squad.

Pimienta recently provided an update on Adams’ progress, revealing that the striker had started light training and was back on the pitch working with the ball. While the club hopes to have him available soon, Sevilla are wary of rushing his return, given their lack of attacking depth.

Adams has yet to make his senior debut for Nigeria despite featuring at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

New Super Eagles head coach Éric Sékou Chelle has included him in the preliminary squad for the upcoming qualifiers, alongside fellow forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke. However, Sevilla are reluctant to release the striker unless he proves his full fitness.

Should Adams be unavailable, Eric Chelle is not short of options in the centre-forward role, with Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Victor Boniface, and Cyriel Dessers all are top quality alternatives.