‘It shows in the games’ — Super Eagles hopeful Adams reveals how he was able to end 9-month drought

Sevilla striker Akor Adams could not hide his excitement after finally ending his long wait for a La Liga goal, coming off the bench to score a late winner in a crucial 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

The Nigerian forward struck three minutes from time to hand Sevilla all three points at the Estadio de Vallecas, marking a personal milestone after a difficult spell in Spain.

For Adams, this goal was about much more than three points. It was a release of pent-up determination after nine long months without finding the back of the net in La Liga.

His time in Spain since joining from Montpellier last winter has been disrupted by injuries and slow adaptation, limiting him to just nine league appearances so far. But on this night in Vallecas, everything finally clicked.

Introduced in the 69th minute to add energy to Sevilla’s attack, Adams needed just 18 minutes to make his mark. Bursting forward during a swift counter-attack, he timed his run perfectly to meet José Ángel Carmona’s cross before unleashing a powerful strike that crashed off the crossbar and into the net.

The goal sent Sevilla fans into wild celebration, sealing a hard-fought victory against a Rayo side that had dominated possession but failed to convert their chances.

Speaking to reporters after the match, the 25-year-old was quick to highlight the collective effort that made the win possible.

“Before I talk about myself, I think it was a great game from the team, with a strong fight and a good mentality,” Adams said.

“I had the opportunity to come on, I was prepared and working hard, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity. We didn't give up. We have a top mentality in the group. The coach has confidence in what we can do, and it shows in the games.”

Now that the drought is over, Adams will be hoping this goal becomes the spark that reignites his season. With Nigeria’s Super Eagles watching closely, the striker’s timing could not be better as he aims to build momentum, earn more minutes, and potentially work his way back into national team contention.