Super Eagles star, Premier League target opens goal account in Belgium

Nigerian international striker Tolu Arokodare scored his first goal of the new 2025/2026 Belgian Jupiler Pro League season on Sunday.

However, his goal was not enough to help his club, Genk, avoid defeat in their away game against Standard Liege. The match ended in a 2-1 loss for Genk.

Arokodare started the game on the bench and was brought on in the 67th minute as a second-half substitute, replacing Jarne Steuckers.

Just three minutes after entering the pitch, he made an immediate impact by scoring in the 70th minute.

Despite his quick contribution, the goal only served as a consolation, as Standard Liege had already scored twice and held onto their lead until the final whistle.

This defeat marks Genk’s second loss in their opening three matches of the season. So far, they have managed only one point from a possible nine, placing them in 14th position on the league table.

The team has scored three goals and conceded five, leaving them with a negative goal difference of minus two.

Tolu Arokodare has been attracting attention during the summer transfer window, with reports linking him to top European clubs.

Italian Serie A teams like AC Milan and Atalanta are said to be interested in signing him, as well as English Premier League side Fulham. His strong performances last season have only added to the speculation.

During the previous 2024/2025 season, Arokodare was one of the standout players for Genk.

He scored a total of 21 goals across both the regular season and the championship play-offs, making him the club’s top scorer. His efforts played a big role in helping Genk qualify for this season’s UEFA Europa League competition.

Looking ahead, Genk will try to bounce back from their poor start to the season when they travel to face Oud-Heverlee Leuven on Friday, August 15. Fans will be hoping Arokodare can continue his good form and help the team return to winning ways.