Super Eagles striker Akor Adams has said his playing style shares similarities with that of Victor Osimhen and Romelu Lukaku, describing himself as a traditional number nine who thrives inside the penalty area.

Adams, who featured alongside Osimhen at the AFCON tournament, described the Galatasaray and Napoli forward as one of his role models, adding that he also admires and closely studies the performances of Ronaldo Nazario and Didier Drogba.

In an interview with Sporty TV, Adams noted that, while growing up, he followed Victor Osimhen during his U-17 national team days because of their similarities in power, pace, and aggressive style of play.

“Personally, there are different kinds of strikers. I am a different kind of striker to Karim Benzema, he is a complete player. He can play as a midfielder and can also play as a striker,” Adams explained. “I am not that kind of striker. I am more like a traditional nine, my job is just inside the box, I know what to do in the box.

“I used to watch him on YouTube before the games. I watch Ronaldo Nazario because he is a proper number nine. “When I was much younger, I watched Victor in the national team (U17), because I think in terms of power, pace, and being aggressive, we play the same kind of football.”

He added that he also draws inspiration from players like Romelu Lukaku, whose attributes he believes are similar to his, as well as Didier Drogba, describing them as the type of striker profiles he admires.

“I watched Romelu Lukaku because there are some qualities that I have that he has as well. I watch Didier Drogba, so these are the kind of profiles I like.”

Adams, who impressed during Nigeria’s campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations, also reflected on the team’s semi-final defeat to Morocco on penalties.

The Nigeria International said the team had wanted a fair contest and initially believed that approach was right.

However, after realizing it might not have been the best strategy, he noted that they had already committed to it and decided to stay focused until the penalty shootout, despite the circumstances surrounding the match.

“We wanted a fair game. It is after we realized that was not the best approach, I think we would have been dogged enough to stick it out,” Adam said.

“Which, we did until the penalties even with all the things around the game. Football wise, I think we did all we could do to get a victory but we lost in a penalty and that is not in our country.”

Akor stated that he did not consider the game completely fair, not because there were major decisions deliberately made against the Super Eagles, but because several minor decisions accumulated and ultimately worked against the team.

According to him, these factors combined to tilt the balance away from them.

He also pointed to the demanding travel schedule as another challenge, explaining that the team had to move between multiple cities within a short period.

“I feel it is not a completely fair game. It is not because big decisions were made to hurt the Super Eagles', it is because the small decisions accumulated into the game not being in our favour completely and other factors leading to the day of the game, like travelling twice,” Adams stated.

“I think we are one of the teams that traveled two or three days or so. We were in Casablanca for the quarterfinal. From Fes to Casablanca, and then Casablanca back to Fez, and then Fez back to Rabat, all in the space of four or five days.

“There was fatigue and so many things. We are Super Eagles', we don't chase excuses, we went to the game, gave our best, and it happened.”

Adams enjoyed an impressive tournament, netting two goals and registering two assists across seven matches, helping Nigeria clinch the bronze medal.

Adeyemi Adewale