Super Eagles forward Akor Adams in an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa expressed joy after Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Benin in their FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Saturday.
Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen led the charge with a brilliant hat-trick, while Frank Onyeka of Brentford added the fourth to seal an impressive win that ensured Nigeria finished second in their group.
The result means the Super Eagles will now take part in the playoffs to determine Africa’s representatives in the intercontinental qualifiers, finishing with 17 points, one behind group winners South Africa.
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Sevilla forward Akor Adams, who scored against South Africa in the penultimate fixture, exclusively told Footy-Africa that he was proud to play a part in Nigeria’s push for World Cup qualification.
“I’m happy that I was able to play my part in this quest for a place at the World Cup. What a day to be a Nigerian,” he said. “It was a tough game, even though the scoreline might not show it. We had to dig deep and press from the top to create space for the midfielders to move the ball forward.”
“Before the game, we told ourselves that we needed to make Nigerians proud and push hard to reach the World Cup or at least the playoffs. I’m happy we’ve achieved that, even though there’s still work to do,” he added.
Akor also reserved praise for Victor Osimhen, who scored his 29th international goal for Nigeria, cementing his second place on the nation’s all-time scoring chart, just nine behind the late Rashidi Yekini.
“Having Victor is a blessing. He’s a fantastic player, and whenever he gets the ball, he makes things happen,” Akor said.
“We’re lucky to have him. I congratulate him and the entire team for this incredible performance. Hopefully, we’ll keep it up in the playoffs to make Nigerians proud.” he added.
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Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and DR Congo have all qualified for the African playoffs in November.
The winners will advance to a six-team Intercontinental Playoff in Mexico next March, where two final spots for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico will be decided.
