Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has won the 2025/26 SPORTY LaLiga MVP Award, beating Nigerian duo Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke. The award recognizes the best African player in Spain's top division.
Gueye's Stellar Season
Gueye delivered an outstanding campaign for Villarreal and Senegal. He made 30 LaLiga appearances, scoring five goals and providing two assists. He also played seven Champions League matches. His performances helped Senegal win the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored the winning goal in the final against Morocco.
Speaking after receiving the award, Gueye said: "It is a source of pride because it is the first individual title I have won in my career. I want to thank all my teammates and the coach."
Adams' Breakthrough Season
Akor Adams enjoyed a strong campaign at Sevilla, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists in 32 appearances. He averaged a goal every 207 minutes and scored in Sevilla's 4-1 win over Barcelona. Despite missing nine big chances, he remained a reliable attacking threat.
Ejuke's Inconsistent Campaign
Chidera Ejuke struggled for consistency, making 27 appearances but only six starts. He scored one goal and provided one assist. His technical quality and passing accuracy (84%) were valuable, but his modest attacking return left him behind stronger contenders.
Nigeria's Unity Cup Campaign
Nigeria began their Unity Cup title defence with a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe. They will face Jamaica in the final after the Reggae Boyz defeated India.
