Why I cried on Eagles debut – Arokodare

Genk striker Tolu Arokodare has opened up about his emotional debut for the Super Eagles, revealing that he was moved to tears due to the overwhelming experience.

Arokodare is enjoying the best season of his career at Genk, contributing 20 goals and seven assists in 36 appearances across all competitions. His standout performances earned him a call-up to the Nigerian national team, as Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle included him in his 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Though Arokodare did not start in the game against Rwanda, he came on in the 76th minute, replacing Victor Osimhen.

Nigeria secured a 2-0 victory in the match. Afterwards, Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface shared a video showing Arokodare in tears in the dressing room, clearly overwhelmed by the occasion. Unfortunately, he couldn’t help Nigeria secure a win against Zimbabwe, as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Now back at Genk, Arokodare continued his fine form, scoring in their dominant 4-0 win over Gent last week.

In a recent interview shared on Genk’s X handle, Arokodare reflected on his time with the Super Eagles, admitting that he was deeply moved by the entire experience.

“It’s what every footballer dreams of — representing your country,” Arokodare said. “I was so overwhelmed by the moment, and I felt immense happiness for my dad, knowing how much it meant to him. It was also special that he was able to watch me play professionally for the first time in Nigeria.”

He added, “I almost scored, and while we didn’t win, just being able to train with players I look up to — guys I follow on Instagram, Snapchat, and watch in the Premier League — was an incredible experience.”

Nigeria’s next match is in June, and if Arokodare maintains his current form, he will likely earn another call-up.

Back at Genk, Arokodare’s goal in their 4-0 victory over Gent helped kick off the Belgian Jupiler Pro League playoffs. Genk, who last won the league title in 2019, are performing strongly this season, and Arokodare’s contributions could help them secure their fifth league title. If he leads them to victory, he will cement his place in the club’s history and might even attract a move during the summer transfer window.