Super Eagles striker, Akor Adams, has missed out on the 2025/26 La Liga African MVP award after Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye of Villarreal was crowned the best African player in Spanish football.
During the award ceremony in Lagos on Sunday, May 24, Gueye secured 38 per cent of the total votes to edge out Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams, who finished second with 24 per cent, while Villarreal winger Nicolas Pepe came third.
Sevilla pair Adams and Chidera Ejuke were also among the contenders but lost out.
Adams had an impressive campaign with Sevilla, finishing as Nigeria’s highest-scoring forward across Europe’s top five leagues, netting 10 league goals and providing three assists in 32 appearances.
Gueye, however, was outstanding in only his second season at Villarreal, establishing himself as the heartbeat of a midfield that helped the Yellow Submarines qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the second successive year.
Receiving the award, an emotional Gueye described the recognition as the greatest individual achievement of his career.
“It’s a real source of pride, and an honour, to be named the best African player in La Liga,” the Senegalese said.
“It’s the first individual award of my career, and it means a lot to me because in everything I achieve, I’m also representing all of Senegal. Right now at Villarreal, I’m experiencing the best moment of my career.”
Gueye now joins a distinguished group of African players to have won the award, including Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Nico Williams, and former Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze.
Chukwueze claimed the honour in 2023 after an outstanding season with Villarreal, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions, highlighted by a match-winning performance against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.
