Is Akor Adams Justified if Disappointed in Being Subbed off in Afcon Matches?

Was it me or did Akor Adams look disappointed when substituted in the 59th minute for Dele-Bashiru against Tanzania?

Up to that point, the flashy finisher hadn’t put a foot wrong. He was at the heart of a strategy of “interchange movements” employed to perfection by Coach Chelle on the night.

This interchange saw Chukwueze and Lookman swap positions seamlessly between centre attacking midfield and the right wing. Akor, for his part, darted to the right wing and also operated from midfield, in addition to his support striker subroutine where, in all positions, his deliveries were deft, delightful, and dutiful.

Be it delivering long balls from midfield, crosses from the flank, driven passes from close range or just driving through a body of opposition defenders with menace, Akor schooled us in a masterclass of attention to detail within within the framework versatility in application.

That said, I stand by an earlier assessment of mine that both he and Osihmen were slightly hesitant in pulling the trigger on the night though Adams came close to smashing a fiendish header beyond the reach of the Tanzania goalkeeper, only for the post to have other ideas.

I don’t think Akor should feel disappointed to have been substituted. I know what I am about to say is a cliché but this team, this Super Eagles outfit is somewhat star-studded with a sprinkling of dangerous and hungry wildcards.

So, being substituted was not an indictment of Akor’s performance, no, other players as equally patriotic, passionate and pulsating as Akor are also itching to pull the house down with rip-roaring performances in this Afcon .

There is no need to say it: Akor has won the hearts and minds of Super Eagles fans and, along with Benjamin Frederick, constitute one of Chelle’s greatest accomplishments in unearthing raw diamonds and refining them for the mammoth tasks of meeting expectations in Super Eagles colours.

Onuachu appears to have been elevated in the pecking order of strikers; I am happy for him. However, it also seems like Chelle might utilise his services like Peseiro did in the last Afcon which is to waste time in the dying embers.