Super Eagles forward, Akor Adams, no use poor pitch as excuse for Super Eagles 3-0 defeat for Guinea-Bissau last Tuesday, but e don urge African countries make dem develop their football playing surfaces to match global best standards.
E yarn yesterday to NFF Media for Russia say, as Italian Serie A Venezia striker, African football suppose get minimum standard for international games.
‘I think a good pitch suppose be bare minimum for African football. We all know this. I no dey make any excuse for Nigeria 3-0 defeat for Guinea-Bissau, and I no go make excuse,’ na wetin e add.
Adams however stress say as professionals, Super Eagles suppose don envisage the kind low quality pitches wey countries dey take their opponents play.
‘We be professionals, and we suppose know say plenty things dey come with the game. The weather, the referee, whatever circumstances, we suppose find our way,’ e talk. ‘But a good pitch suppose be bare minimum for how big African football be, and that no be the case that day for Bissau,’ the former Sevilla forward observe.
The AFCON 2025 bronze medalist insist say Nigeria no suppose lose the qualifier last Tuesday, because e put Super Eagles three points behind the Wild Dogs for Group L standings.
‘I think plenty factors happen for the game, but e no be game we suppose lose, and we have to take responsibility for that. We don take responsibility for it,’ e talk. ‘Na game we prepare well for. We know how important e be for us for qualification phase. But looking back, we don dey make corrections to wetin happen for the game. For football, we dey bad side that day as group and as team.’
‘We know our possibilities and how good we can be when we dey our best. But that no be our best day. Na something we have to take responsibility for,’ e add.
‘Games still dey go, but with qualifications, we dey try our best for this generation make we no reach place where we need another team to do good or do bad so we go qualify. But we fall short against Guinea-Bissau, and we understand better now. We go make sure say we come out good,’ the Benue-born forward assure Nigerian fans.
The poor performance against Guinea-Bissau don leave Nigeria three points behind the Djurtus, with four games remaining to rescue their qualifying campaign and avoid another major setback following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Akor Adams talk say Nigeria don already start to correct the mistakes wey lead to their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau.
After beating Madagascar for their opening fixture of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Eric Chelle men travel go Bissau hoping to build on that victory.
However, the Super Eagles suffer historic defeat for Estadio 24 de Setembro, with Franculino Dju, Mama Balde and Alvaro Djalo find net for the hosts.
The result deal major blow to Nigeria qualification hopes and increase pressure on Chelle side.
The Venezia striker admit say his team no suppose lose the encounter, while insist say the players don accept responsibility for the disappointing result.
‘E no be game we suppose lose, and we have to take responsibility for that,’ Adams tell Super Eagles media. ‘We don take responsibility for it. Na game we prepare well for. We know how important e be for us for qualification phase. Looking back, we don already dey make corrections to wetin happen for the game. For football, we dey bad side that day as group and as team. We know our possibilities and how good we can be when we dey our best.’
The striker also criticise condition of pitch for September 24 Stadium, but insist say the poor playing surface no fit be excuse for the result.
Adams believe say providing good pitch suppose be minimum standard expected for African football.
‘That no be our best day. Na something we have to take responsibility for. I think a good pitch suppose be bare minimum for African football. We all know this. I no dey make excuses, and I no go make excuses,’ e add. ‘We be professionals, and we suppose know say plenty things dey come with the game. The weather, the referee, whatever circumstances, we suppose find our way. But a good pitch suppose be bare minimum for how big African football be, and that no be the case that day.’
Nigeria go dey hope to get their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign back on track when dem welcome co-hosts Tanzania for their next fixture on November 11.
