Wolves Forward Arokodare Details Reasons for Nigeria AFCON 2025 Squad Exclusion
Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare has provided a candid explanation for his absence from Nigeria's squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, acknowledging that his limited playing time and inconsistent form at club level made the decision understandable. The Wolverhampton Wanderers forward, who joined the Premier League side last summer from Genk, was initially included in the provisional list but ultimately missed the final cut for the tournament in Morocco.
Realistic Self-Assessment Led to Expected Omission
Arokodare revealed that he had mentally prepared for the exclusion following a disappointing performance in Nigeria's World Cup qualifying playoff against DR Congo. "To be very honest, I knew without anybody telling me. Since that Congo game, I would be very honest," Arokodare stated in an interview with Counter Attack. "That Congo game, the way I came on and off, and the way the result went... I obviously was trying to score."
The 25-year-old striker adopted a pragmatic perspective, recognizing that his irregular minutes with Wolves at the time did not justify national team selection. "The way my last game went with the national team wasn't really the best and the way the season was going with Wolves. I wasn't playing as many minutes. I am like, Tolu be realistic, if you're the coach, would you call yourself?" he added.
Intense Competition in Nigeria's Attacking Department
Arokodare further highlighted the formidable competition within Nigeria's striking options as a significant factor in his omission. He pointed to established stars like Victor Osimhen and Paul Onuachu, alongside in-form attackers such as Akor Adams, who were performing consistently at both club and international levels.
"Look at the strikers, there was Osimhen, Onuachu, who was the top scorer in Turkey ahead of Osimhen, who is our top scorer in the national team," Arokodare explained. "There is Akor Adams, who is having a very good run with the national team, he was doing very well playing alongside Osimhen."
The Wolves forward noted that several other Nigerian forwards found themselves in similar circumstances. "So, it was between me, Dessers, Moffi, and Boniface, who were in the same situation as me and he was struggling with fitness."
Recent Improvement and Hopes for Super Eagles Recall
Since the AFCON exclusion, Arokodare has focused on rebuilding his form at Wolverhampton Wanderers, gradually earning more playing time as the club contends with relegation challenges. He has now made 23 appearances this season, scoring two goals according to Transfermarkt statistics.
Arokodare remains optimistic that his recent progress will capture the attention of national team selectors ahead of potential March call-ups. Nigeria, under coach Eric Chelle, performed admirably in the 2025 AFCON tournament, finishing third despite falling to hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals. The Super Eagles demonstrated attacking prowess throughout the competition, scoring 14 goals to finish as the tournament's highest-scoring team.
The Nigerian squad defeated formidable opponents including Tunisia and Algeria during their campaign, ultimately securing bronze medals in Morocco. Arokodare's absence from the final squad reflected the depth of talent available to coach Chelle, particularly in the attacking positions where established performers were delivering consistent results.
