Wolves boss Rob Edwards confirms Tolu Arokodare is fit and mentally ready to play against Aston Villa on Friday night, just days after the Nigerian striker was bombarded with racist abuse on social media.
Nigeria Striker Backed by Club After Horrific Weekend
Tolu Arokodare will take to the Molineux pitch on Friday night, cleared and ready to face Aston Villa despite enduring one of the most painful weeks a footballer can experience. The 25-year-old Wolves striker was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse on social media after his penalty miss in the club’s 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last Sunday, February 22.
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards confirmed the Nigeria international’s availability ahead of the Premier League clash with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, insisting the whole squad has rallied around their teammate. The match kicks off tonight at Molineux.
“He was upset and angered by it, understandably so. We have supported him and had a few individual chats with him. We have spoken about it as a group to make sure we get around him and support him as well.”
Rob Edwards, Wolves Head Coach
The abuse came after Arokodare had his first-half penalty saved by the Crystal Palace goalkeeper, before Evann Guessand struck a devastating injury-time winner for Patrick Vieira’s side. What followed on social media was, by any measure, horrifying. Multiple anonymous accounts sent the striker racially offensive private messages, and both Arokodare and the club shared screenshots of the abuse publicly to draw attention to the problem.
Arokodare Speaks Out Against the Abusers
The Nigerian striker did not stay quiet. He took to his Instagram story to call out the perpetrators directly, describing the situation with a clarity that cut through any corporate language.
“It’s still unbelievable to me that we’re playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences. These individuals should have no place in our game, and collectively we have to take action to punish everyone who taints the sport like this, no matter who they are.”
Tolu Arokodare, via Instagram
Wolves issued a statement calling the behaviour “abhorrent and unlawful,” adding that Arokodare has their “full and unwavering support.” The club confirmed they are working with the relevant authorities and online platforms to identify those responsible. The Premier League also condemned the abuse, promising “serious consequences for anybody found guilty of discrimination.”
A Wider Problem That Won’t Go Away
Arokodare was not alone in suffering racist abuse that weekend. It was, as anti-discrimination group Kick It Out described, “an appalling weekend” for the sport. Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri had already been targeted on Instagram following their sides’ 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge the previous day. Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle also received racist messages after his side’s defeat to Fulham.
In Scotland, Rangers defenders Emmanuel Fernandez and Djeidi Gassama faced similar attacks after their 2-2 draw with Livingston. The incidents followed the alleged racial abuse of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during the Champions League knockout round play-off at Benfica, which UEFA is also investigating.
Police are now investigating all four Premier League cases. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, told BBC Sport that it removes racist content when found and continues to “co-operate with police investigations.” But for many players, those words are wearing thin. As Fofana said bluntly: “2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes. These people are never punished.”
Who is Tolu Arokodare?
The 25-year-old joined Wolves last summer from KRC Genk in the Belgian Pro League, where he had just won the Golden Boot with 21 league goals and 23 in all competitions. It was an arrival that generated real excitement, given the level of production he showed in Belgium. He also made history on December 13, 2025, becoming the first Nigerian player to score a Premier League goal for Wolves, netting against Arsenal at the Emirates in a 2-1 defeat.
In 18 Premier League appearances this season, he has scored twice. For a striker of his ability and physicality, his supporters know there’s more in him. Adapting to the pace and physicality of English top-flight football always takes time, and Wolves have not had an easy season. What’s happening to him off the pitch, though, has nothing to do with form or fitness. It’s a problem the entire football world shares.
For Nigerian fans watching his career closely, this moment carries weight beyond one Premier League fixture. Arokodare is part of a growing generation of Nigerians proving themselves in European top leagues, and what he said on Instagram reflects the kind of dignity and courage that make a footballing nation proud.
Editorial View
Arokodare’s response to the abuse was precise and powerful. He didn’t bury his feelings in corporate language. He named the problem clearly and called for consequences. What football’s governing bodies and social media platforms have failed to deliver, players like Arokodare are forcing into the open. Wolves backed him publicly, the Premier League issued its statement, but the real test is what happens after the headlines fade. The question isn’t whether racism in football exists. We all know it does. The question is whether the institutions with the power to punish it have the will to act. Arokodare has done his part. Now it’s their turn.
Eyes on Molineux Tonight
Wolves host Aston Villa in what is a significant Premier League fixture for the home side. Edwards’ team is pushing to climb the table, and Arokodare will be looking to contribute with his presence and hold-up play. Having the backing of his manager and teammates will matter. Players perform best when they feel supported, and by all accounts, the Wolves dressing room has shown exactly that kind of unity this week.
For Nigerian supporters who have been following Arokodare’s journey from Genk to the Premier League, Bet9ja’s 170% accumulator boost is available for Premier League matches, giving fans a way to back their man during tonight’s clash at Molineux.
What tonight’s game represents, beyond three points, is a statement. Arokodare showing up, playing, and competing after what he went through this week sends a message that matters far beyond any scoreline.
📌 Did You Know?
- Tolu Arokodare became the first Nigerian player to score a Premier League goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers, netting against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on December 13, 2025.
- Arokodare won the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot in the 2024-25 season with KRC Genk, scoring 21 league goals and 23 in all competitions before signing for Wolves.
- The racist abuse Arokodare suffered was part of a broader “appalling weekend” in which four Premier League players received racist messages on social media, including Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri.
- Kick It Out reported a record number of discrimination complaints to its organisation from across English football during the 2025-26 season, reflecting growing awareness but also the scale of the problem online.
- In November 2025, a BBC investigation found that more than 2,000 extremely abusive social media posts, including death and rape threats, were sent to Premier League and Women’s Super League players and managers in a single weekend.
- Arokodare has made 18 Premier League appearances for Wolves in the 2025-26 season, scoring twice since arriving from Genk last summer in what was considered one of the league’s most exciting striker signings.
