“I was very happy for my dad” — Tolu Arokodare reflects on Super Eagles home debut

By: Monsurah Olatunji

Racing Genk striker, Tolu Arokodare, has expressed his joy at having his father watch him play live in a Nigerian jersey during his home debut for the Super Eagles.

Arokodare, 24, was called up to the national team by coach Eric Chelle for the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The forward made his debut for Nigeria in the game against Rwanda, coming on as a substitute for about thirteen minutes.

However, it was the Super Eagles’ match against Zimbabwe in Uyo that held special significance for Arokodare.

Not only was it his first home appearance for Nigeria, but it was also the first time his father, Mr. Arokodare, had the opportunity to watch his son play at a high level in his professional career.

The match ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw, but Arokodare made a key contribution to Nigeria’s goal.

In an interview with Racing Genk’s official YouTube channel, Arokodare shared his deep sense of pride in representing his country and the special importance of the moment for his family, especially for his father.

“I was very happy for my dad because I know it meant a lot to him. I was also happy he could come to watch me play for the first time ever,” Arokodare said.

Reflecting on the experience, he continued, “Professionally, he watched me in Nigeria and I almost scored.

“We didn’t win, but I got to train with people I look up to—people I see on Instagram, social media, Snapchat, and watch in the Premier League. I got to train with them, and I saw the mentality. It was different, it was a good experience.”

Arokodare’s debut marked a memorable milestone in both his career and his family’s journey, as he continues to make strides on the international stage with the Super Eagles.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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