Nigeria's Tolu Arokodare has provided an update on his fitness ahead of the Super Eagles' Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The 25-year-old striker, who recently joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, admitted he's still recovering from an illness that forced him to miss his team's previous game against Willem II. Arokodare came on as a substitute in Ajax's 2-2 draw against Excelsior on Saturday and scored within two minutes of his appearance.
Despite his immediate impact, Arokodare revealed that he struggled physically during the game and was still feeling the effects of the illness. He expressed concerns about his fitness level, stating that he was "hunched over" and tired after just five or six minutes on the pitch. Arokodare acknowledged that he needs to regain full fitness before focusing on his role in the national team. His condition will be closely monitored as he returns to the Super Eagles.
Arokodare's goal against Excelsior took his tally to three in six Eredivisie appearances, with one assist. Across all competitions, he has scored seven goals in 12 appearances since joining Ajax. His form has earned him a recall to the Super Eagles for their opening two 2027 AFCON qualifying fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria will host Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 before traveling to Bissau four days later.
Arokodare's fitness is a concern for coach Éric Chelle, who will be keeping a close eye on his condition. The striker's strong start at Ajax has strengthened his case for a prominent role in the Super Eagles. However, with competition for places in the team's attack and Victor Osimhen's fitness situation still uncertain, Arokodare knows he must regain full fitness to make an impact.
Arokodare was left out of the previous two international windows, including the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. His recall to the national team comes after a strong performance at Ajax. The 25-year-old striker expressed happiness about his brief appearance in the game against Excelsior and hopes to recover fully during the international break.
Nigeria's opening AFCON qualifier against Madagascar is scheduled for Friday in Uyo. The Super Eagles will then travel to Guinea-Bissau for their second group fixture on September 29. Arokodare's recovery will be crucial to Nigeria's chances in the qualifiers. The team will be looking to make a strong start in the competition.
Abiodun Adewale reported this story for PUNCH, covering different tiers of the Nigerian football league, national teams, and cricket. Arokodare's fitness update comes as a significant development for the Super Eagles ahead of their crucial AFCON qualifiers. The team will be counting on their key players to deliver strong performances in the competition.
Key points
- Arokodare is still recovering from an illness that affected his performance in Ajax's 2-2 draw against Excelsior.
- The 25-year-old striker has scored three goals in six Eredivisie appearances and seven goals in 12 appearances across all competitions.
- Nigeria's opening AFCON qualifier against Madagascar is scheduled for Friday in Uyo, followed by a second group fixture against Guinea-Bissau on September 29.
