Is Akor Adams Deserving of a Place in Nigeria's Afcon Squad?

What is there not to like about Akor Adams?

He goes about his business up front for Nigeria with quiet confidence and exceptional professionalism. He never always looks like scoring, though, and he can easily go under the radar in matches without seeming to make meaningful contributions.

What I like about him is his opportunism. Give him a meter, and he will take a mile. As a defender, take him for granted, take your eye off him at your peril, for he will pounce with precision and panache.

As a lone centre forward against Congo, he wasn’t in his element. He couldn’t feed off the crumbs of long balls from Ajayi and Nwabali and he wasn’t physical enough to bully or put the fear of God in the hearts of the Congolese defence.

Arokodare, on the other hand ruffled the feathers of the opposition defenders by sheer force of his physicality as they had to work extra hard to stop Arokodare from latching on to those long balls.

Akor goes to the Afcon for me.

He has earned my loyalty, he has earned my admiration, he has earned my trust. On a good day, if fit, I think the Terem Moffis or even (if fit and focused) the Kelechi Iheanachos are more deadly in front of goal compared to Akor.

Yet again, there is something insidious, sly, and cunning about how how lurks around the 18 yard, looking to do the goal post some harm, that draws me to his style of play.

Plus, he is happy for Victor Osihmen to take the spotlight by him being withdawn and more will to supply passes to Osihmen than, say an Arokodare or Onuachu who (perhaps rightly in their view) pride themselves as credible goal scorers in their own right.

Which will explain why Akor stealthily took the place of Arokodare in Chelle’s pecking order of striker due to being seen as more of a team player, less of a goal scorer.

But more goals will come, I can bet 2 Kobo on it, should Akor make the Afcon squad.