Tolu Arokodare at 100: Why Anderlecht & two others are clubs he loves to punish most

Tolu Arokodare reached 100 senior career goals on Thursday after scoring and providing an assist in AFC Ajax’s 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Conference League.

The Super Eagles striker came off the bench to open the scoring in the 87th minute before setting up Ajax’s second goal in stoppage time.

Arokodare has scored 100 goals in 284 senior appearances for clubs in six countries and the Nigeria national team. Much of his best work came during his time at Belgian side KRC Genk, where Royal Antwerp, RSC Anderlecht and KAA Gent often found him difficult to stop.

Tolu Arokodare’s favourite foes

Royal Antwerp: Six goals in 12 games

Royal Antwerp have been Arokodare’s most beloved opponents. He scored six goals and provided one assist in 12 meetings, although Genk’s record in those games was four wins, four draws and four defeats.

On December 26, 2023, Arokodare came off the bench to score twice in two minutes as Genk beat Antwerp 3-0. He struck twice again against the same opponents on Boxing Day in 2024, scoring in a 2-2 draw away from home.

He also rescued a point for Genk on April 23, 2025, with a late header in a 1-1 draw during the Belgian Pro League Championship playoffs. The goal took his league tally to 20 for the season.

Anderlecht: Four goals and an assist

Anderlecht have also struggled against the Nigerian forward, who is currently at Ajax on loan from Wolves. Arokodare scored four goals and provided one assist in eight appearances against the Belgian giants, helping Genk record five wins, one draw and two defeats.

He scored in a 2-1 victory over Anderlecht on April 20, 2024, during the championship playoffs, giving Genk an important boost in their push for European qualification.

On December 22, 2024, he was involved in both goals in a 2-0 win, opening the scoring before setting up Konstantinos Karetsas for the second.

Gent: Four more goals

Arokodare also enjoyed facing Gent, scoring four goals and providing one assist in eight matches. Genk won four of those games, drew three and lost once.

On March 30, 2025, he scored in a 4-0 victory during the championship playoffs despite missing a first-half penalty. He found the net again in a 4-1 away win on May 19, taking his league tally for the season to 21 goals.

His performances earned him the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot and the 2025 Ebony Shoe award.

Tolu Arokodare’s road to 100 goals

Genk accounts for the largest share of Arokodare’s career goals, with 41. He scored 22 for Latvia’s Valmiera, 21 for French club Amiens, six for Wolverhampton Wanderers, eight for Ajax and two for Nigeria.

After reaching the milestone, Arokodare celebrated on social media, writing: “100 career goals. Grateful for this journey and the path God has paved for me.”

The Nigeria international, who ended a 24-year Italian curse in midweek, will hope to add to his tally when Ajax make the trip to face Sparta Rotterdam in an Eredivisie clash on Sunday.