Brace hero Arokodare eyes more goals in Zanzibar

(Left to right) Tolu Arokodare and AkorAdams celebrate goal

Super Eagles striker, Tolu Arokodare, who scored twice off the bench in the 3-1 win over Tanzania, has said his job is to score goals as Nigeria prepare for the return leg of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Zanzibar on Tuesday.

Arokodare came on at half-time at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday and struck in the 52nd and 60th minutes, turning a 1-1 game in Nigeria’s favour. The goals were his first brace for the national team.

The 25-year-old was close to a hat-trick late on, but he was denied by the Tanzanian goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.

In an interview before the first leg, Arokodare spoke about the responsibility of Nigeria’s strikers.

“As a striker, I need to score goals. That is my job for the team, and scoring goals wins games,” he said.

He added that the duty did not rest on him alone.

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“I think it is not just for me, but for every other striker on the national team. We have to always try to bring our A-game and score as much as possible as we can,” he said.

“It is very important for me to use whatever opportunity I get, starting or not starting, coming off the bench, to always try to be in positions and score goals.’’

That is something I am really working on mentally and physically,” he said.

After the match, he posted a short message on social media. “Can only be God,” he wrote.

The result lifted Nigeria to six points from three Group L games, one behind Guinea-Bissau. The return fixture takes place at the Amaan Stadium on Tuesday, November 17.