An 18 minute cameo off the bench was all Tolu Arokodare needed to open his Ajax account and set up another as the Dutch giants took control of their Conference League tie.
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Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare scored his first goal for Ajax and provided an assist as the Dutch giants beat Swiss club Sion 4-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League play off on Thursday night.
Arokodare started the match on the bench, coming on for Marcos Leonardo with 18 minutes remaining. He made an immediate impact, netting Ajax’s third goal of the night in the 74th minute before turning provider three minutes from time, setting up Davy Klaassen to make it 4-2 and cap an impressive substitute appearance.
A Positive Sign After A Difficult Wolves Spell
The goal comes as a welcome marker for Arokodare, who joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in late July following a difficult debut Premier League campaign in which he managed just three goals in 33 appearances as Wolves were relegated. His involvement in both goals against Sion offers an early sign that he is settling into life at his new club.
A Tie Nearly Wrapped Up
Ajax will look to close out the tie and secure a place in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa Conference League when they host Sion in the reverse fixture at the Johan Cruyff Arena next Tuesday.
📌 Did You Know?
- Arokodare finished as the Belgian Pro League’s top scorer with 21 goals during his final season at Genk before his move to Wolves.
- He made his Ajax debut off the bench earlier this month, setting up a goal in a season-opening Eredivisie win over PEC Zwolle.
- Davy Klaassen, who scored the goal Arokodare set up, is a veteran Dutch international who previously captained Ajax before spells at Everton and Werder Bremen.
- Ajax’s move for Arokodare included an option to make the loan permanent for around €22 million next summer.
- Standing at 1.97m, Arokodare has built his reputation on aerial ability and clinical finishing inside the penalty box.
- Winning this Europa Conference League play-off tie would guarantee Ajax a place in the competition’s league phase, offering the club a fallback route into Europe this season.
