Osimhen's Legacy: Superstar Inspires Arokodare's Emotional Tribute and Mentorship
Tolu Arokodare reveals how Victor Osimhen inspired his tribute to injured Ajax teammate Kasper Dolberg after scoring against NEC Nijmegen.
Ajax striker, Tolu Arokodare, recently revealed that his Nigeria international compatriot, Victor Osimhen, inspired his touching tribute to injured team-mate Kasper Dolberg.
Arokodare made the gesture after scoring in Ajax’s 1-1 draw against NEC Nijmegen on Saturday at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
After powering home a header from Jorthy Mokio’s cross in the seventh minute, Arokodare held up Dolberg’s shirt towards the stands in a clear show of solidarity.
Speaking after the match, Arokodare confirmed that the idea for the tribute came from Osimhen, who plays for Turkish champions Galatasaray. “I wanted to do something like this,” Arokodare said, as quoted by Habersarikirmizi. “Or rather, it wasn’t my idea; Osimhen told me, ‘You should do something like this,’ and I did. I thank him for that.”
Kasper Dolberg, a Danish forward, sustained a knee injury while training with the Denmark national team during the international break.
He underwent successful surgery on his right knee in Copenhagen and is now focusing on his rehabilitation, with Ajax confirming he will not play again this season.
Arokodare’s gesture aimed to remind Ajax supporters of Dolberg’s absence and encourage them to support the Danish forward through his recovery.
Victor Osimhen himself had previously made a similar gesture at Galatasaray. In November 2024, Osimhen displayed Mauro Icardi’s shirt to the club’s supporters after the Argentine striker suffered an ACL injury.
This act of support during Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory against Samsunspor was widely praised, showcasing Osimhen's empathetic side and highlighting the strong bonds between teammates even when injuries keep them off the pitch.
Arokodare's tribute therefore followed a powerful example set by his Super Eagles teammate.
Despite Arokodare’s early goal, Ajax could not secure a victory. Tjaronn Chery equalised from the penalty spot in the 19th minute after Jorthy Mokio was penalised for a foul, resulting in the teams sharing the spoils.
This result left Ajax five points behind league leaders Feyenoord, who remain unbeaten in the Eredivisie. Arokodare was substituted in the 73rd minute but will be looking to continue his goalscoring form in upcoming matches, including against Hajduk Split in the Conference League.