Arokodare signals Nigeria with 8th goal of season

Tolu Arokodare is arguably the hottest Nigerian striker across Europe, with eight goals and one assist in 12 Belgian First Division A appearances for Genk, making him the joint leading scorer overall in 2024/2025.

The 23-year-old is hugging the headlines, having earned his stripes five years after hopelessly playing in the dirty streets of Festac Town in Lagos State.

His name now rings a bell across the Belgian elite division, having started all 12 matches for his club. He has not taken his finger off the trigger since opening his account in their 3-1 defeat to OH Leuven on August 3.

He followed that up with a brace in their 4-3 win at Beerschot the following weekend, serving as a rude awakening to defenders to whom he remains a puzzle. He was also on target the last time out, scoring the second in a 2-0 win at Gent.

Being consistently among the goals for his club makes Arokodare a perfect spare for Victor Osimhen, against the backdrop of Victor Boniface and other Super Eagles striking options being internationally goal-shy.

As Nigeria prepare for their final two matches in the 2025 AFCON qualifying series against Benin Republic and Rwanda in November, Coach Austine Eguavoen should extend an invitation to Arokodare, whose doggedness from playing grassroots football in Nigeria can add both firepower and steel to the team’s attack that does not sleep without Osimehen.

Spending his youth career with Kash Academy, Flying Sports Academy, Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy, and Box2Box FC Academy in Surulere, Lagos, makes him super-fit for the African game.

European spells at Latvian club Valmiera, German club FC Köln, his professional debut for Köln, and Genk, whom he joined in January 2023 on a four-and-a-half-year deal, make a perfect fit for all occasions.