Tolu Arokodare has expressed delight after scoring his first international goal for the Super Eagles in Nigeria's 1-1 draw against Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday night.
The KRC Genk striker capitalized on a mistake by Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov in the 71st minute, helping Nigeria secure a valuable point in the international friendly encounter.
Following the match, the 24-year-old took to social media to celebrate his achievement, writing: "First international goal, the journey has only just started. We thank God."
Growing Presence in the National Team
The goal marks a significant milestone for Arokodare, who has now made five appearances for the Super Eagles under coach Éric Chelle's guidance. His performance in Moscow suggests he could become an increasingly important figure in Nigeria's attacking options going forward.
The friendly match also broke attendance records, with BenriNews reporting that the Nigeria-Russia encounter saw the highest attendance for a Russian national team match in six years.
Coach Chelle defended Safonov after the match, stating that "everyone makes mistakes," while also singling out standout performers from both teams. Meanwhile, Russian coach Valeri Karpin felt his team "deserved more" from the encounter despite the draw.
For Arokodare, the goal represents a promising start to what he hopes will be a prolific international career with the Super Eagles, as Nigeria continues its preparations for upcoming competitions.
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