Critical reception
On the culture website Africa Is a Country, Harvard University lecturer Lilly Havstad highlighted Sam's Nigerian identity and his storylines concerning race, football, and Africa's place within the fictional professional game; she also noted that relatively little critical discussion had focused on him compared with the show's other major characters. Salon, however, was more critical of Sam's development, arguing that although he was portrayed as thoughtful, gentle, and emotionally intelligent, little about his inner life, motivations, or personal development beyond his relationships and interests were revealed.
In a review of the second season, Lucy Mangan of The Guardian highlighted Sam's storylines involving the Black Lives Matter movement and the controversy surrounding Richmond's sponsor, describing them as being handled movingly and unforced. Mangan also wrote that the series gave its supporting characters, including Sam, greater depth in the second season. Josh Spiegel of What's on TV similarly singled out Sam as one of the strongest parts of the second season, describing him as the show's "secret best part." British GQ later described Sam as the "moral beating heart" of the series, citing his kindness and development as a midfielder, and after the show's third season, Collider wrote that Sam was the only character worthy of a spin-off.
Sam's storyline in the second-season episode "Do the Right-est Thing", in which he opposes Richmond's sponsor Dubai Air, was particularly well received, with critics praising the character's development, the handling of the subject matter, and Jimoh's restrained performance. The storyline, however, also drew criticism: writing for Winnipeg Free Press, reviewer Alison Gillmor argued that while Sam's confrontation with the sponsor raised the issue of economic imperialism in Nigeria, the conflict was resolved too easily.
Sam's relationship with Rebecca received a more mixed review. In an opinion piece for The Washington Post, Alyssa Rosenberg described Sam as "endearing and seductive" but also questioned aspects of his relationship with Rebecca, including their age difference and Rebecca's position as the one who signs Sam's paychecks.
Race portrayal
Scholar Rukmini Pande, writing in the Journal of Popular Television in 2024, analyzed Sam's story in relation to race and English football. Pande wrote that the show Ted Lasso dealt with racism by focusing on what individuals do rather than looking at bigger problems in institutions. She pointed out that Sam's inner life received less attention than those of white characters on the show, and also that Sam's good portrayal can become a form of tokenism and a "post-racial" view of race.
