Akor Adams: 'Winning the Seville derby makes you feel like you own the city'
Sevilla striker Akor Adams opens up on Sunday's derby, his hunger for consistency, and what it means to lead the line for the Nervionenses.
Akor Adams is ready to run through a wall for Sunday’s Seville derby — and he’s not shy about saying it.
Third time’s the charm?
This weekend’s clash with Real Betis will be Adams’ third taste of the Seville derby, and the Nigerian striker is fully clued up on what it means. He’s been on the losing side in his only appearance so far this season, and he’s clearly got a point to prove. Speaking to African outlet Sporty TV, he summed up the occasion brilliantly: ‘It’s like being the owner of the city if you win.’
That’s not just bulletin board material — that’s a lad who genuinely gets it. He’s not treating this like a standard three-pointer. He called it the most important derby he’s played in his career so far, and described the pressure around it as positive, not negative. The kind of pressure that should get you up for it, not bottle it.
The consistency problem
When Adams talks about what Sevilla actually need right now, he doesn’t faff about:
- It’s not about individual results, it’s about stringing wins together
- He pointed out just how tight La Liga is — everything is compressed in the table
- His view: three or four wins on the bounce and your whole outlook on the season changes
He’s not wrong, is he? Sevilla have had flashes of quality this season but haven’t been able to sustain anything. One decent run could shift them properly up the table, and Adams clearly knows that.
Taking ownership up front
What’s interesting about Adams is his self-awareness about his role. He’s not just talking about goals — he’s talking about influencing the game in every phase, being the bloke his teammates can rely on regardless of the scoreline or the minute.
He wants to be the sort of number nine who can pop up in the first minute or the 90th and make something happen. That’s the mentality you want from your centre-forward going into a derby. No hiding, no waiting for the perfect moment — just taking responsibility.
Nigeria and Sevilla, both close to his heart
On a broader note, Adams made it clear how much he loves life in Seville — he called it one of the best cities in Europe, which, fair play, is hard to argue with. He’s also deeply proud of representing the Super Eagles, calling it his greatest personal privilege even above playing for a club like Sevilla.
That kind of grounded perspective from a young striker is encouraging. He knows where he came from, he knows what he’s got, and he’s hungry to deliver. Sunday can’t come soon enough.