Arokodare Says He Is Ready, And The Timing Could Not Be Better
Abuja · Tuesday 22 September 2026
Tolu Arokodare has said he is determined to give his best and help Nigeria qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. He is in Eric Chelle's 24-man squad for the opening qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, selected on the back of his club form.
The sentence every called-up player says, and why this one lands
Declarations of readiness are the most predictable quote in football. What makes this one worth printing is the date. It was made in the same week Victor Osimhen was ruled out with a groin injury, which converts a squad place into a genuine chance of minutes.
The queue he is in
| Player | Case |
|---|---|
| Taiwo Awoniyi | Experience, called up as the direct replacement |
| Kelechi Iheanacho | Scoring in eight consecutive games |
| Tolu Arokodare | Club form, and the least to lose |
Three answers to one absence, which is more than Nigeria had in August.
Squad depth is invisible until the first choice is injured. Then it is the only thing anybody talks about.
The part that decides it
Not the interview. Whether he is on the pitch in Antananarivo and what he does there. Nigeria has a long record of players who spoke well in camp and a shorter one of players who took the chance when the shirt became available, and only the second group is remembered.
Reporting: Complete Sports, Channels Television and PM News Nigeria.
Read next
- Manchester City Scored Five, And The Computer Still Likes Arsenal
- Osimhen Is Out Of The AFCON Qualifiers, And Awoniyi Is Back In
- Tinubu Is Skipping The UN General Assembly For A Third Year
If you argue about Nigerian football for a living, you may as well dress like it. Caps and tees are in the TalkTalkNigeria store, and Naira pricing is here.
