Nigeria Exits AFCON: A Look at Sevilla’s Players and Upcoming Challenges

Nigeria was eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday night, suffering a defeat in the semifinals against Morocco via penalty shootout (0-0; 2-4). As seen throughout the tournament, the performances of Sevilla players varied significantly. Akor Adams was part of the starting eleven, playing for 97 minutes, whereas Chidera Ejuke remained on the bench for the entirety of the match. Adams has accumulated 2 goals and 2 assists in six games, while Ejuke had only played for twelve minutes against Tunisia during the group stages.

Following their elimination, Nigeria is set to compete for third place against Egypt this Saturday at 17:00 hours. As this is a consolation final, it is likely that Nigerian coach Éric Chelle will opt to field less regular players, which could provide Ejuke with more playing time and allow Adams some much-needed rest.

FIFA recommends a minimum rest period of 72 hours for players between matches, suggesting that Ejuke and Akor Adams may not be available for Sevilla’s upcoming match against Elche on Monday at 21:00 hours. However, the club will strive to ensure that both players can participate in this fixture. If they are unable to play, they would return for the twenty-first matchday, where the team is scheduled to face Athletic Club at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on Saturday the 24th at 18:30 hours.

To assess the likelihood of Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams playing against Elche, a recent example includes Karl Etta Eyong. Last Friday, the Cameroonian player featured for 14 minutes in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup, where his team lost to Morocco 0-2. Two days later, he participated for three minutes with Levante in a match against Espanyol that started at 16:15 hours.

In any case, Sevilla must carefully manage the situation with Ejuke and Akor. Although head coach Matías Almeyda is eager to incorporate them back into the lineup as soon as possible, he is also aware of the need to avoid excessive risk, especially given the team’s ongoing struggles with recurrent injuries, particularly in the attacking department. The return of the Nigerian players presents both advantages and challenges.