The 20th-minute goal at Bingu National Stadium was the latest chapter for a centre-forward who left Nigeria as an unknown and built his career in southern Africa.
Adepoju was born in Lagos on 21 November 1995. He stands 1.92m and plays as a right-footed target man. He never represented Nigeria at any level. After a spell with Sahel SC in Niger he arrived in Malawi in 2017, first linking with Blue Eagles before making his name at Masters Security, whom he helped to the 2018 Carlsberg Cup.
He then played for Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers before crossing Blantyre to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in 2021. At Bullets he became a cult figure: more than 100 appearances, 60-plus goals, league titles, cups and multiple Golden Boot awards. A 2025 Super League campaign on loan produced 15 league goals and seven assists. He dedicated that Golden Boot to the club’s supporters.
Venda Football Club in South Africa’s second tier signed him in 2023. Loan returns to Bullets kept him in Malawi colours. In July 2026 he joined Mozambican side Costa do Sol on a short deal after his Venda contract ended.
Naturalisation in 2025 opened the national team door. He said Malawi had given him a career and he wanted to give something back. First call-up came for World Cup qualifying. His first international goal arrived in a friendly against Ethiopia in June 2026. Friday’s strike against South Sudan was his first in a competitive qualifier.
Lloyd Njaliwa added Malawi’s second. South Sudan replied through Joseph Dhata. The Flames sit on three points in their group with Egypt and Angola having drawn 0-0.
Adepoju’s path — Lagos, Niamey, Blantyre, Venda, Maputo — is now tied to the Flames’ push for the 2027 finals in East Africa.