Arokodare Walks the Talk: Eight-minute magic fires Nigeria past Tanzania after pre-match promise

• Tolu Arokodare promised to score for Nigeria in Victor Osimhen’s absence and the Ajax striker delivered in style with a match-winning brace against Tanzania.

• Coming off the bench at half-time, Arokodare scored in the 52nd and 60th minutes as Nigeria recovered from a 1-1 first-half scoreline to win 3-1 in Uyo

.

Tolu Arokodare promised Nigeria that he would score against Tanzania. On Friday night in Uyo, the Ajax striker did exactly that - twice.

With Victor Osimhen ruled out after knee surgery, Arokodare had been asked to shoulder more of Nigeria’s attacking burden ahead of the decisive AFCON 2027 qualifier.

Before the game, he made his intentions clear.

He then backed up his words in the best possible way.

Arokodare arrived at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in superb club form, having scored 13 goals for Ajax across the Dutch league and UEFA Conference League this season.

But he admitted that his goal return for Nigeria had not matched his club output, and vowed to change that against Tanzania.

Eric Chelle started Akor Adams up front, with Arokodare among the substitutes. But the coach’s decision to bring on the Ajax man at half-time proved decisive.

Nigeria had taken the lead after just two minutes through Alhassan Yusuf, but Tanzania equalised through Alphonce Msanga in the 32nd minute, leaving the Super Eagles level at the break.

Chelle introduced Arokodare and Moses Usor at half-time, and the changes transformed Nigeria’s attack.

In the 52nd minute, Arokodare restored Nigeria’s lead with a clever back-flick from captain Wilfred Ndidi’s pass.

Eight minutes later, he struck again - this time finishing a dangerous delivery from fellow substitute Moses Usor to make it 3-1.

The brace was Arokodare’s first for the Super Eagles, and it came at exactly the moment Nigeria needed it most.

Osimhen’s absence was always going to be a major test for Nigeria’s attack. The Galatasaray striker underwent knee surgery after picking up an injury in Galatasaray’s Champions League match against Stuttgart.

But Arokodare answered the call, proving that Nigeria have a striker capable of delivering when the biggest name is missing.

He even had the chance to complete a hat-trick late in the game, but the Tanzanian goalkeeper denied him in a one-on-one situation.

Still, two goals were enough to make the difference and enough to remind everyone why Arokodare has been in such devastating form for Ajax.

The 3-1 win moved Nigeria to six points from three Group L matches, one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau.

More importantly, it restored belief in the Super Eagles camp after the 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their previous qualifier.

Nigeria will now travel to Zanzibar for the return fixture against Tanzania on Tuesday, November 17, with Arokodare’s brace giving them momentum and confidence.

For Arokodare, though, the message was simple: he promised to score — and he delivered.