Tolu Arokodare scored two goals for Genk in Antwerp and his performance did not go unnoticed in Nigeria, where we do not understand why he is not called up to the national team.
The tall striker has been at the heart of Genk’s comeback, displaying his exceptional quality in front of goal and proving his importance to the Belgian league leaders.
Arokodare posed a constant threat throughout his 83 minutes on the pitch. His two goals came from a total of nine attempts, five of which were on target.
Despite a big missed opportunity, the Nigerian striker posted an xG (expected goals) of 1.06, highlighting his effectiveness in the box. He also made a significant contribution in the duels, winning two of his four ground challenges and an aerial duel.
More and more precise passes
Despite losing the ball 13 times, his ability to maintain a 77% passing accuracy on 22 attempts reflects his progression in link-up play.
The double takes Arokodare’s tally this season to 13 goals in 20 league appearances, placing him firmly at the top of the Jupiler Pro League goalscoring charts.
This form marks a turning point in his career at Genk, after a start marked by injuries and adaptation difficulties since his arrival in January 2023 to replace Paul Onuachu.
Ups and downs
Since his arrival, Arokodare has had his ups and downs. His first half-season was disrupted by injuries, limiting his output to just 15 goals in all competitions, as Genk missed out on qualifying for European competitions.
However, this season the Lagos-born striker appears to have fully acclimated to the demands of the Belgian top flight, leading Genk’s charge to a first title since the 2018/19 season.
Reflecting on his role in the team, Arokodare remains humble and insists that personal accolades are secondary.
“It doesn’t matter who scores. If I score, I’m happy. If I don’t score but have an assist, I’m just as happy. The top scorer rankings come after that,” he told DAZN.
Three Nigerians top scorer
If Arokodare maintains his current form, he could join a select group of Nigerians who have won the championship’s top scorer title.
Paul Onuachu, Joseph Akpala and Tosin Dosunmu are the only Nigerians to have achieved this feat, with Paul Onuachu’s 33 goals in the 2020/21 season setting a benchmark.
