Arokodare's Fitness Worries Ahead of AFCON Qualifiers

Tolu Arokodare's chances of playing for the Super Eagles in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are now uncertain. Ajax has given some worrying news about the striker's health just before the international break, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Ajax coach Míchel Sánchez revealed that Arokodare has been dealing with a fever all week. This illness kept him on the bench during Tuesday's Eredivisie match against Willem II.

The 25-year-old did not play at all in the game, watching as Ajax won 5-1 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Sánchez explained that Arokodare's absence from the starting line-up was due to his health, not a tactical choice. "Some substitutions are unavoidable. Tolu has been sick all week. He has a fever. We don’t know if he can play a few minutes today. We shall see. He is on the bench and really wanted to be involved," Sánchez said, according to VoetbalNieuws.

This illness comes at a bad time for Arokodare. Ajax will face Excelsior in the Eredivisie on Saturday, just six days before Nigeria starts their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo.

Arokodare has quickly become an important player for Ajax since joining on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July. This loan lasts until summer 2027 and gives Ajax the option to buy him permanently.

Before getting sick, the former Genk striker was in great form, scoring twice and assisting once in five Eredivisie matches, totaling 245 minutes on the pitch. His performance in continental matches has also helped his reputation, as he scored three goals in Ajax's Conference League qualifying games against Sion.

These performances had made Arokodare a strong candidate for Eric Chelle's attacking plans. This is especially true after Victor Osimhen got injured during Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir on September 4.

Arokodare was becoming a real option alongside Rafiu Durosinmi and Kelechi Iheanacho as Chelle finalized his choices for the September matches.

Nigeria needs good results against both Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Only the highest-ranked non-host country in Group L will automatically qualify for the tournament. Tanzania, one of the three co-hosts, has already secured its place in AFCON 2027, making it even more critical for the other teams in the group.

With the Super Eagles’ first qualifier approaching fast, Arokodare's recovery will be watched closely by Chelle and the coaching staff as they consider their options up front.