{
  "id": 9044700,
  "title": "Arokodare gives fitness update ahead of Madagascar clash",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/arokodare-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-madagascar-clash",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T00:44:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/arokodare-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-madagascar-clash/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tolu Arokodare, the 25-year-old striker, has admitted he is still working to fully recover his fitness before Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Arokodare scored off the bench for Ajax against Excelsior on Saturday, coming on at the 62nd minute and netting within two minutes. However, he revealed that he was still feeling the effects of an illness that had kept him out of Ajax’s previous game against Willem II due to sickness. \"You could see after five or six minutes that I was hunched over because I was tired. I needed this match to realize that I am not yet 100 per cent fit. I still feel weak,\" Arokodare said. Despite his brief impact, Arokodare will need to regain full fitness before returning to Nigeria’s national team. The Super Eagles face Madagascar in their opening qualifier on September 25 in Uyo, followed by a match against Guinea-Bissau on September 29. Arokodare’s strong performance at Ajax has strengthened his case for a prominent role under coach Éric Chelle, but he insists he must first recover fully before focusing fully on the national team.",
  "summary": "Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare admits he is not yet 100 per cent fit for the AFCON qualifier against Madagascar despite scoring for Ajax on Saturday. Read More: https://punchng.com/arokodare-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-madagascar-clash/",
  "key_points": [
    "Tolu Arokodare, 25, working to regain full fitness for Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.",
    "Striker scored off the bench for Ajax against Excelsior on Saturday.",
    "Arokodare will need to fully recover before Nigeria's September 25 qualifier against Madagascar."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Arokodare's fitness concerns mean his role in Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau is uncertain until he fully recovers from his lingering illness and regains his full fitness.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "AFCON qualifiers: Madagascar settle in Uyo ahead Eagles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/afcon-qualifiers-madagascar-settle-in-uyo-ahead-eagles",
        "published": "2026-09-22T00:44:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}