By Wale Mustapha
KRC Genk striker Tolu Arokodare is excited and eager to make his debut for the Super Eagles of Nigeria as he joins the national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Arokodare, who was included in coach Eric Chelle’s 23-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, is set to make his first appearance for the national team after receiving his maiden call-up.
The 24-year-old has been in sensational form for the Belgian Pro League side this season, scoring 17 goals.
His strong performance continued last weekend, as he netted in Genk’s 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise before reporting to the Super Eagles’ camp in Kigali on Sunday.
“I still don’t know how to feel. It’s a mix of only great feelings for my family and me. I can’t wait to put on that shirt,” Arokodare said in an interview with Voetbalnieuws.
The striker is hopeful he will make his debut when Nigeria faces Rwanda on Friday in Kigali.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
