Tolu Arokodare, RKC Genk’s current top scorer, has expressed his joy and excitement at receiving a call-up to the Super Eagles, revealing that wearing the national team jersey has been a lifelong ambition.
The 24 year old striker, born in FESTAC Town, Lagos, never played professionally in Nigeria before moving abroad in 2019. His journey took him from Flying Sports Academy and Box2Box FC in Lagos to clubs in Latvia Valmiera, Germany FC Cologne, and France Amiens before landing at Genk in Belgium.
Arokodare has scored an impressive 19 goals in all competitions this season, making him Nigeria’s third highest scorer in Europe, behind Victor Osimhen’s 26 goals and Cyriel Desser’s 21 goals. Despite his form, the call-up still came as a surprise to him.
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He admitted:
“At first, I was surprised. I was excited and honoured to be mentioned among the initial 39 invited players. I knew it would come eventually, but I didn’t expect it this early.”
Now part of the final 23 man squad for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Rwanda, Arokodare described the opportunity as one of the greatest moments of his career:
“Getting the chance to represent your country is one of the best things that can happen to a footballer. As a kid, you always dream of this moment, watching national legends play.”
He hopes to make his debut off the bench and possibly score a crucial goal that could boost his standing within the national team and place him ahead of Victor Boniface, who has struggled to make an impact in his first 11 appearances for Nigeria.
Editorial
Tolu Arokodare’s story is a classic example of patience, hard work, and belief. From humble beginnings at youth academies in Lagos to becoming a prolific scorer in Europe, his call up to the Super Eagles is well deserved. His humility and excitement show just how much representing Nigeria means to him, making him a player to watch closely as the qualifiers progress.
Nigeria has always been blessed with striking talent, but finding players who combine skill with passion and dedication for the green and white jersey is invaluable. Arokodare’s attitude suggests he’s not just here for the headlines but genuinely eager to contribute. His ambition and current form could make him a serious contender for a permanent spot in the Super Eagles’ attacking line-up.
The coaching team should seize this opportunity to give him minutes and assess how well his club form translates to the international stage. If he delivers, Nigeria could have another reliable forward option as they push for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Did You Know?
- Tolu Arokodare never played in the Nigerian Professional Football League NPFL before his move abroad.
- He was top scorer in the Latvian Higher League during his spell with Valmiera FC.
- His former youth club, Box2Box FC, has produced several other Nigerian players now plying their trade in Europe.
- Arokodare has played in three different European leagues Latvia, Germany, France before finding success in Belgium.
- He is only the second Nigerian player in Genk’s history to score double-digit goals in a single season across all competitions.
