Super Eagles striker, Tolu Arokodare has explained the animated touchline moment with Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez during Thursday’s 6-1 UEFA Conference League win away to FC Midtjylland, insisting there was no disagreement between them.

Television cameras caught the 25-year-old and Sánchez trading energetic hand gestures near the touchline in the first half. Speaking to reporter Noa Vahle after the final whistle, Arokodare said the coach was telling him not to fixate on the opposing defender and to run into open spaces more. He said he could not make out the instruction from a distance, so he went over to Sánchez and asked him to explain it properly, which the coach did.

Arokodare then joked that Sánchez is a very funny man and that the media cannot understand the relationship they share.

The striker backed up the instruction on the scoresheet. He gave Ajax the lead in the ninth minute with a header from a corner. Fellow Nigerian, Friday Etim levelled for the Danish side in the 28th minute, but Arokodare restored Ajax’s advantage seven minutes after the break, volleying home from a pass by Abdellah Ouazane.

Owen Wijndal, Davy Klaassen, Oscar Gloukh and substitute Marcos Leonardo completed the rout.

The brace took Arokodare to 12 goals in 16 appearances for Ajax this season, six in the Eredivisie and six across the Conference League and its qualifiers, along with four assists.

He credited his teammates for the quality of their passes and described the result as a big boost ahead of what he expects to be a tough next fixture.

His form has not gone unnoticed in Amsterdam. Ajax technical director Jordi Cruijff has said the club has made arrangements to sign the former Genk man permanently, praising his mentality and team spirit.

Arokodare is on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers until the summer of 2027, with an option to buy reportedly worth between €18 million and €20 million. He has said he is open to a permanent stay, telling Dutch reporters that he loves being at the club, while insisting the decision is between Ajax and Wolves.

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