Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has praised striker Akor Adams for his work rate and contribution to Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Tanzania in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, despite expressing disappointment over his failure to convert several scoring opportunities.
Adams, who started alongside Ademola Lookman in Nigeria’s attack, impressed the coach with his pressing, movement and commitment to the team but was criticised for not making the most of his chances in front of goal.
The striker was eventually substituted in the second half, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru coming on in his place. 
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Chelle said Adams had the opportunity to score two or three goals but needed to improve his finishing to become more effective in the final third.
“Adams, he gave everything, but he had the chance to score maybe two or three goals today,” the coach said.
“He ran a lot and gave everything for the group, but in the end, he has to be better at scoring goals.”
However, Chelle stressed that the forward’s contribution went beyond scoring, particularly highlighting his defensive work and ability to win possession through Nigeria’s high-pressing approach.
The coach explained that Adams played an important role in the build-up to Nigeria’s opening goal, as his pressure on the Tanzanian defence forced a turnover that allowed the Super Eagles to launch the attack.
Adams recovered the ball before linking up with Lookman, whose pass found Alhassan Yusuf, who subsequently found the net.
“I am happy with his performance because he worked for the team,” Chelle added.
“You saw the high press: he gets the ball back, passes to Ade, and Ade passes to Alhassan Yusuf to score. So, if he is not there, we don’t have the ball. So, I am happy.”
Nigeria’s victory provided an important boost to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, with the Super Eagles looking to secure a place at the tournament and avoid a repeat of their struggles in the previous qualification cycle.
The three-time African champions will, however, expect greater efficiency in front of goal as the campaign progresses, particularly with competition for attacking positions among the squad’s forwards.
For Adams, Chelle’s assessment presents a clear challenge: maintain the work rate and collective contribution that earned the coach’s approval while becoming more clinical when opportunities arise.
The striker will have another opportunity to improve his goal-scoring output when Nigeria face Tanzania again in the return fixture.
