Coppa Italia: Akor Adams beats Osimhen to Nigerian weekly award

Akor Adams has been named Nigeria’s Baller of the Week after producing a decisive debut for Venezia FC in the Coppa Italia. The forward scored twice and supplied an assist in a 3-2 comeback win over Modena, giving him the award ahead of Victor Osimhen after a closely fought weekend between two of the country’s leading strikers.

Adams’ performance combined goals with a broader influence on the match. His two finishes helped Venezia overturn the contest, while his assist added another direct contribution to a victory that required a comeback. The display was not simply a scoring debut. It was an all-action performance that placed Adams at the centre of Venezia’s attacking response from the start of his time at the club.

The timing of the performance made it more significant. Adams had left Spain only weeks earlier, and his first competitive appearance in Italy immediately produced three goal contributions. The move had therefore brought an early opportunity to make an impression, and the Nigerian used it to announce himself in the loudest way available: two goals, an assist and a place in the next round of the Coppa Italia.

Osimhen came closest to taking the award. The Galatasaray striker scored a second-half brace to prevent the Turkish champions from suffering defeat on the opening day. His goals gave Galatasaray a late rescue operation and reinforced his importance to the side while his future remains the subject of intense transfer speculation. In the final comparison, however, Adams’ additional assist separated the two forwards.

The margin between them was narrow because both delivered multi-goal performances under pressure. Osimhen provided the goals that changed the direction of Galatasaray’s match, while Adams influenced the full attacking output of Venezia’s comeback. The award consequently turned on the completeness of the debut rather than on a clear difference in finishing quality.

Other Nigerian players also made strong claims during the opening weekend and its surrounding fixtures. Samuel Chukwueze was directly involved in three goals as AC Milan defeated Manchester United 4-2 in a high-profile friendly. The winger scored once and created two more, giving Milan a major attacking threat during a match in which the English side struggled to contain him.

Siphesihle Ndlovu supplied another standout individual display, although his award came in domestic competition in South Africa. The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder was named Man of the Match after a 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium. He helped Chiefs withstand sustained pressure, then held off Sundowns before setting up Langelihle Phili for the opening goal in the 63rd minute. Ndlovu later dedicated the award to the Zion Christian Church.

The early-season picture also includes less positive momentum elsewhere in Europe. Red Star FC 93’s recent five-match sequence is a run of alternating results rather than sustained progress: defeats by Amiens and Le Havre AC, wins against UNFP and Orléans, followed by a 1-0 loss at Estac Troyes. That sequence stands in contrast to Adams’ immediate impact, with the Nigerian arriving at a new club and delivering a match-winning contribution on his first competitive outing.

For Nigeria, the weekend has highlighted the range of attacking options available beyond one established name. Osimhen remains capable of producing a decisive brace, Chukwueze can influence a match through goals and assists, and Adams has now added a high-impact European debut to his record. The next challenge for Adams is to turn this Coppa Italia breakthrough into a sustained run of performances for Venezia as the 2026/27 season develops.