Tolu Arokodare: Super Eagles new hero reaches 100,000 followers after breaking Rwanda’s heart

Super Eagles of Nigeria’s new hero, Tolu Arokodare, won thousands of hearts on Saturday, September 6, after coming off the bench at Godswill Akpabio Stadium to net a dramatic winner against Rwanda. 

The 1-0 victory not only kept Super Eagles fans dreaming of next year's World Cup, but also sent his social media following rocketing to 100,000 in under a day.

Before kick-off on Saturday, Arokodare’s Instagram following stood at a respectable 94.3K, Pulse Sports can report.

 Less than 24 hours later? Wolves’ new goal machine had blown past the six-figure mark - all thanks to that crucial goal in Uyo.

It’s evident that in the modern game, goals don’t just win matches, they win followers. 

And towering forward has shown he’s capable of winning both.

Arokodare didn’t just want to make an impact, it’s fair to say he had to. 

His last goal for Nigeria came on his debut in an international friendly against Russia, where he also struck as a substitute to salvage a 1–1 draw.

But Saturday’s goal carried more weight: against Rwanda in a pivotal World Cup qualifier at the Uyo stadium, he calmly dispatched the only goal in the 51st minute, deftly slotting home from a loose ball in the box.

The goal came from his impressive link up play with Bruno Onyemaechi, and the result was critical.

 Three points that keep Nigeria slim hopes alive in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 

Nigeria now head into their next qualifier with one less superstar but one new one burning brightly. 

With Victor Osimhen sidelined through injury, Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle, must decide how to build the attack around Arokodare’s newfound confidence.

Their next test comes on Tuesday, an away match set for  September 9, 2025, against group leaders South Africa - a crucial clash in the same World Cup qualifying group. 

Kick-off is by 5:00 PM local time and venue is at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The Super Eagles must win to keep their qualification dreams alive ahead of the 2026 World Cup.