Sevilla striker Akor Jerome Adams will miss Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa due to a long adductor muscle injury in his left thigh, suffered during Sevilla’s La Liga defeat to Getafe last weekend (Daily Post Nigeria, Yahoo Sports).
At 25 years old, this represents a significant setback for both club and national team. Sevilla confirmed on Wednesday that Adams is unavailable not only for the qualifiers but also for this weekend’s fixture against Girona (Daily Post Nigeria, Yahoo Sports). The injury occurred in live action, prompting the club’s medical staff to rule him out of further participation in the short term.
This was to have been Adams’ maiden call-up to the Super Eagles for these crucial qualifiers—an important milestone in his career that has now been deferred by misfortune (Daily Post Nigeria). Head coach Éric Chelle had added Adams to Nigeria’s 31-man provisional squad, recognizing his potential contribution; but with the injury, he’ll now be unavailable for selection.
Striker Adams joined Sevilla in January 2025 from Montpellier and had showed flashes of promise in La Liga. However, his time in Spain has been marred by recurrent injuries. In fact, he has already logged more than 149 days out due to muscle issues during the 2024–25 season—notably earlier hamstring strains—according to his injury profile on Transfermarkt (Transfermarkt).
In April 2025, Sevilla’s sporting director, Víctor Orta, acknowledged the Nigerian striker’s struggles, stating that Adams had been “unlucky” due to frequent fitness setbacks, which had limited him to only a handful of appearances since joining the club (Africa Sport Network). The current injury reignites concerns around his durability and ability to contribute consistently at both club and international level.
The timing is particularly unfortunate. Nigeria’s qualifiers against Rwanda (Amavubi) and South Africa (Bafana Bafana) are set to take place next month, with the Super Eagles aiming to secure a straightforward path to the 2026 World Cup. Losing a forward of Adams’ profile adds pressure on coach Chelle to reassess his attacking options.
For Sevilla, the blow comes amid a string of absences. Earlier in the season, Adams had already missed the tail end of the schedule due to a muscle injury suffered while debuting as a starter (Diario AS). Now, with the long adductor injury, he joins several teammates on the sidelines—exacerbating the club’s offensive woes as they look ahead to the season’s challenges.
While exact recovery timelines remain unspecified, adductor injuries typically require several weeks of rehabilitation. The earlier absence (hamstring)—as tracked by Transfermarkt—already demonstrates that Adams needs tailored physical care to both recover fully and avoid future recurrence (Transfermarkt, Diario AS).
For the Super Eagles, the immediate consequence is clear: Adams will miss Nigeria’s next qualifiers, forcing a reshuffle in the squad and limiting options up front.
