Akor Adams, the new Nigerian on the Ligue 1 block

Nigeria's newest striker Akor Adams has hit the ground running at Montpellier, chasing Kylian Mbappé in the Ligue 1, eating scoring charts,

and following in the footsteps of fellow Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen.

Adams played for the Jamba Football Academy in Kaduna before heading to Norway as an 18-year-old in August 2018 to sign for Sogndal. The 6'3" (1.90m) forward suffered with injury there, but did enough to convince local heavyweights Lillestrom to sign him in December 2021. In just 50 competitive appearances for them, he scored 28 goals - opening his account after coming off the bench on his debut - and laid on seven more.

He netted 15 times in as many Eliteserien games in the 2023 season, which started in April, before moving to Montpellier in summer 2023.

Style of play

"I have to highlight the team performance, the guys who set up the goals. I didn't score this brace all alone," said Adams after hitting the net twice in the 3-0 win over Toulouse in Round 10.

That says a lot about his attitude.

Despite his impressive scoring record, Adams is not merely a single-minded goalscorer. Without the ball, his tireless work gives Montpellier an effective first line of defence, and despite his height, he has so much more to him than aerial presence.

Quick with and without the ball, his physique does make him a handful in the penalty area, and draws defenders to him, creating space for others. His unerring finishing - like compatriot Osimhen - means he is the complete package.

Current campaign

Adams picked up where he had left off in Norway, scoring twice on his debut in the Round 1 draw with Le Havre to make it seven goals in just five league appearances. He has since added five more goals to come into Round 11 of the campaign second only to Kylian Mbappé in the French top-flight scoring charts.

What they said

"I have of course followed Ligue 1 because a lot of Nigerian players have shone here in the past such as [Jay-Jay] Okocha, [John] Utaka and Osimhen, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to play here." Adams after signing for Montpellier

"He's a worker, who has the mentality of a worker. He works in the gym, on the pitch…He's a guy that is hungry." Montpellier coach Michel der Zakarian.