Sevilla warmed up for the new season with a thrilling 4-2 win over Schalke 04 in Germany, with Nigerian forwards Akor Adams and Kelechi Iheanacho playing starring roles in a six-goal spectacle.
The Spanish club delivered an energetic display on Friday evening as Adams bagged a brace and Iheanacho found the net in his return to action after illness.
The win is Sevilla’s first of their pre-season campaign and offered a glimpse of the attacking promise the Nigerian duo can offer this term.
Adams, starting as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, wasted no time in making an impression. The 24-year-old forward headed home a perfectly weighted cross after just four minutes to give Sevilla the early lead, his first goal for the club since joining from Montpellier in January.
Akor’s first goal in a Sevilla shirt pic.twitter.com/q86CqrDSPE
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) July 26, 2025
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Despite enduring an injury-hit second half of last season with just four La Liga appearances, Adams looked sharp and purposeful. He doubled Sevilla’s advantage in the 32nd minute with a composed finish past former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius.
At halftime, manager MatÃas Almeyda introduced Iheanacho for Adams.
The former Leicester City striker had missed Sevilla’s 3-0 loss to Birmingham City last week due to a stomach bug, but made an immediate impact on his return.
Though Schalke pulled one back through a Sylla penalty, the momentum swung again in Sevilla’s favour when another Nigerian star, Chidera Ejuke, joined the fray in the 65th minute. Just moments later, Agoumé floated in a delightful cross which Iheanacho buried with a powerful header, re-establishing Sevilla’s two-goal cushion.
Schalke responded through Salazar in the 84th minute, but Marcão’s strike two minutes later sealed the win for the Andalusians.
When our Naija boys return and are instantly among the goals pic.twitter.com/pDnyQbOpik
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) July 26, 2025
The match was a showcase of Nigerian attacking brilliance, with Adams and Iheanacho involved in three of the four Sevilla goals.
Their ability and clinical finishing will surely give MatÃas Almeyda something to ponder as the club gears up for the new campaign.
Sevilla now shift focus to their next pre-season test against Marseille on August 2, with Adams and Iheanacho expected to feature prominently again.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.