Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare has earned two nominations for Ajax’s Goal of the Month award for October following an impressive run of performances that saw him score four goals in six appearances.
The Nigerian forward earned places on the shortlist for his goals against Atalanta in the UEFA Conference League and AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, underlining his growing influence since joining the Dutch club.
Arokodare’s first nomination came from Ajax’s European encounter against Atalanta on October 22, when he produced a decisive moment three minutes from full time.
The 25-year-old received a long pass from Youri Baas, controlled the ball expertly and took on a defender before calmly slotting his finish past the goalkeeper to put Ajax ahead.
The goal demonstrated his composure and ability to create a scoring opportunity through individual skill, particularly at a crucial stage of the encounter.
His second nomination came from Ajax’s 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar on Saturday, when he scored the only goal of the match in the ninth minute.
Arokodare showed his aerial strength by rising above AZ defender Mees de Wit to meet Abdellah Ouazane’s cross, powering a header into the net to give Ajax an early advantage.
The Nigerian’s strike proved decisive as Ajax held on to secure all three points, extending their winning run under coach Michel Sanchez to four consecutive matches.
Arokodare, however, faces competition for the monthly award, with teammate Ouazane also receiving two nominations. Davy Klaassen, Leo Salazar, Abdoulaye Camara and Naoufal Mouslim complete the shortlist.
The double nomination represents another encouraging milestone for the striker, who joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July, with an option to make the move permanent.
His four goals in October have strengthened his position in the team’s attack and provided further evidence of his ability to contribute in both domestic and European competitions.
Speaking after the victory over AZ, Arokodare stressed the importance of understanding when to press and when to maintain defensive discipline, explaining that Ajax needed to improve their reading of the game without the ball.
The former Wolves forward will now hope that one of his two nominated strikes receives enough support to claim Ajax’s October Goal of the Month award.
