Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare reacts to online racial abuse after penalty miss in Gent vs Club Brugge clash

Tolu Arokodare joined KRC Genk during the 2022 Winter transfer window, and he has since then scored 13 goals in 50 appearances

Nigerian forward Tolu Arokodare has found himself at the center of criticism and has faced online racial abuse following a missed penalty during KRC Genk’s match against Club Brugge, Soccernet.ng reports.

Genk endured their second defeat in five games, suffering a 3-0 loss at the Cegeka Arena to Club Brugge, with goals from Hugo Vetlesen, Denis Odoi, and Andreas Skov Olsen.

Arokodare, who has scored eight goals in 10 starts for Genk this season, had the opportunity to give his team the lead from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. However, he failed to convert the chance, leading to a shift in momentum in favour of Club Brugge.

Club Brugge eventually secured the victory with goals from Vetlesen in the 18th minute, and two more in the 73rd and 85th minutes.

After the match, Arokodare faced racial abuse on social media from certain individuals expressing their discontent.

Responding to the messages received on his Instagram page, Arokodare affirmed his pride in his black identity and expressed gratitude to those who supported him during this challenging time.

Soccernet.ng attempted to reach out to the player’s agent to understand the impact of the abuse. However, the player was unavailable for comment due to the sensitive nature of the matter.

Arokodare joined Genk during the 2023 winter transfer window as a replacement for fellow Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu, who departed for Southampton.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories.

Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work.

With a Bachelor’s degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master’s Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.