Unstoppable Arokodare scores first Eredivisie goal
August 31, 2026 4:21 am
Tolu Arokodare can’t stop scoring since joining Ajax. The Nigerian has now opened his account in the league with his compatriots like Chuba Akpom and Umar Sadiq also scoring their first goals of the season. ABIODUN ADEWALE writes
NETHERLANDS
Tolu Arokodare (Ajax)
Arokodare continued his impressive start to life at Ajax, scoring his first Eredivisie goal in their 4-0 win over Telstar on Sunday.
The Nigeria international came off the bench as Ajax pulled away from their hosts in the second half, completing a convincing victory in Velsen-Zuid.
Davy Klaassen opened the scoring in the 37th minute before Steven Berghuis doubled Ajax’s advantage 11 minutes after the restart.
Arokodare then made it 3-0 in the 60th minute, finishing off a move involving Berghuis, before substitute Marcos Leonardo completed the scoring in the 78th minute.
The goal was Arokodare’s fourth in six appearances since joining Ajax, while he has also provided two assists during that period.
ENGLAND
Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
Super Eagles duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey played the full 90 minutes as Fulham suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday.
Substitute Wilson Isidor scored the only goal in the 75th minute to hand Sunderland their first Premier League victory of the season.
Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa criticised his team’s attitude, commitment and desire after the defeat.
Chuba Akpom (Ipswich Town)
Akpom scored his first Premier League goal for Ipswich Town as they lost 5-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The forward, who joined Ipswich in May following a loan spell in the Championship, came on at half-time and scored late in the game to register his first league goal for the club.
The strike came 12 years after Akpom made his Premier League debut for Arsenal.
Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick for United as the hosts recovered from Leif Davis’ opener to secure a comfortable victory.
FRANCE
Moses Simon (Paris FC)
Simon featured for 63 minutes as Paris FC secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Nice in Ligue 1 at the Stade Jean-Bouin.
Lassine Sinayoko opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Samir Chergui doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 51st minute. Vincent Marchetti completed the scoring as Paris FC secured Liam Rosenior’s first Ligue 1 victory since taking charge in the summer.
Tochukwu Nnadi (Marseille)
Nnadi was forced off with an injury as Marseille suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Monaco.
The young midfielder came on at half-time to replace Himad Abdelli but was substituted again in the 74th minute after picking up a knock.
SPAIN
Umar Sadiq (Valencia)
Sadiq scored his first goal of the season for Valencia, but it was not enough to prevent a 3-1 defeat to Deportivo La Coruña in LaLiga.
The Nigerian striker capitalised on a defensive mistake to reduce the deficit after Deportivo had taken a 2-0 lead through César Tárrega’s own goal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fine finish.
Bil Nsongo restored Deportivo’s two-goal advantage after the break with a deflected effort as the promoted side secured their first LaLiga victory of the season.
SCOTLAND
Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers)
Fernandez played the full 90 minutes as Rangers secured a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, bouncing back from their disappointing European exit.
The defender has now featured in six games across competitions this season and helped Rangers keep a clean sheet.
Lawrence Shankland scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Djeidi Gassama won the spot-kick, handing Rangers their first league win of the season.
Aremu, Olusanya (Aberdeen)
Aremu and Olusanya both featured for Aberdeen and were cautioned for fouls as the hosts suffered defeat against Rangers.
The result leaves Aberdeen with just one win from their opening three Scottish Premiership matches.
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
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