Tolu Arokodare: Why Ajax coach dropped Super Eagles striker against Groningen

Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare was left out of Ajax’s starting lineup for yesterday’s Eredivisie clash with FC Groningen.

The 25-year-old started Ajax’s previous match against Hajduk Split in the Conference League, where the Dutch side suffered a 2-1 defeat.

However, when Ajax travelled to Groningen on Sunday, Coach Miguel Sánchez made six changes to his starting lineup, with Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo taking Arokodare’s place in attack.

The decision raised questions about the Nigerian’s role in the team, particularly after his encouraging start to life at the Amsterdam club, but Sánchez made it clear that his choice was influenced by the need for fresh energy and an opportunity for another forward to impress.

Why Tolu Arokodare was benched against Groningen

1. Arokodare’s demanding schedule

The main reason for Arokodare’s omission was the number of matches he had played and the difficulty of maintaining his fitness level through the latter parts of a game.

Speaking to ESPN before the encounter, Sánchez explained why he preferred Leonardo to the Super Eagles striker.

“Tolu has a heavy match load,” the Ajax coach said in quotes revealed by Dutch outlet VoetbalPrimeur.

“He is a player who struggles to finish matches 100%. Leo has enough energy to perform today.”

The comments suggest that Sánchez was managing Arokodare’s workload rather than making a definitive statement about his position in the team.

Ajax had played Hajduk Split just three days earlier, and the coach was looking to refresh his side after the European defeat, especially since Arokodare played 90 minutes against the Croatian side.

2. Sánchez wanted Marcos Leonardo to prove himself

The second reason was the opportunity to assess Leonardo, who was handed the starting role against Groningen.

Sánchez made it clear that the Brazilian needed to show why Ajax had brought him to the club, especially since he’d started no games prior to the Groningen fixture.

“We need the best version of him, and today is a good match for him to show that he is a good signing,” the Spaniard added.

The decision gave Leonardo the chance to lead the attack while Arokodare began the game on the bench.

Ajax went on to secure a 5-2 away victory, with Julian Brandt scoring twice and Jorthy Mokio also netting a brace. Aaron Bouwman scored the other goal.

Arokodare was introduced in the 74th minute, replacing Leonardo, but did not get on the scoresheet.

What next for Arokodare?

Although the Nigerian did not start against Groningen, Sánchez’s explanation indicates that his workload was a major consideration.

The decision does not mean Arokodare has fallen down the pecking order. However, Leonardo’s opportunity gives the Brazilian a chance to compete for more minutes, making it important for the Nigerian to continue scoring or creating chances for his teammates whenever selected.

His omission against Groningen may have attracted attention, but the coach’s comments point to squad management and competition for places rather than a clear loss of confidence in the Super Eagles striker.