Club Brugge manager Thorsten Fink has expressed excitement with Tolu Arokodare’s maiden invitation by Nigeria.

Arokodare was named in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe this week by head coach, Eric Chelle.

The 24-year-old has been in fantastic form for the Smurfs this season, scoring 16 times in 29 league appearances.


Fink believes the invitation will boost the forward’s performance in the remainder of the season.

“It is a country that has a choice of many top strikers,” the German was quoted by HLN.

“It means that Tolu is playing at a very high level. He is working harder than ever, his data proves that.


“Hopefully it will also give him a boost towards the final sprint in the competition. Sixteen goals is already very good, but of course more have to come.”

Arokodare is expected to be in action when Genk host Union Saint-Gillloise at the Cegeka Arena on Saturday (today).

South African Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected unopposed as the President of Confederation of African Football (CAF). This means he would serve a second four-year term as CAF boss.

He secured a second term during CAF’s extraordinary general assembly held in Cairo on Wednesday, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in attendance.

Motsepe was elected by acclamation in Morocco four years ago, succeeding Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad, who had been suspended by FIFA over financial misconduct.

CAF secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba is among those who have credited Motsepe with improving the finances and governance of the organisation.

“Patrice was a gift for African football. In 2021 CAF was a toxic body. He brought good governance to all levels of the organisation,” Mosengo-Omba said ahead of the meeting.

Eto’o Elected To CAF Executive
Also, former Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o was elected to the CAF executive committee by acclamation in Cairo on Wednesday as he was the lone candidate from the central Africa region.

The 44-year-old became eligible only last week after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned a CAF ban on the ex-Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea forward.

His elevation to the executive of the African governing body came at a CAF extraordinary general assembly — an annual meeting of top football officials in the continent.

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Eto’o now joins the supreme decision-making body in Africa.

The CAF ban of Eto’o came last year after the three-time Champions League winner was found guilty by the Cairo-based organisation of an ethics breach.

Last July, CAF said the Cameroonian had “seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship” by becoming a brand ambassador for a betting organisation.

Apart from the suspension, the four-time African Footballer of the Year was fined $200,000 (€185,000). This was later quashed.

Born in the Cameroon port city Douala, Eto’o has been involved in several controversies since becoming FECAFOOT boss in 2021.

He was caught on video assaulting a football supporter outside a stadium after a match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He later apologised, saying: “I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. It was an unfortunate incident.”

Last year, he was banned by FIFA from attending all Cameroon men’s and women’s national team matches for six months after an incident at the Women’s under-20 World Cup in Colombia.

The world body found Eto’o guilty of “offensive behaviour, violation of the principles of fair play and misconduct of players and officials”.

When Belgian Marc Brys was appointed national coach of the Cameroon men’s team last year, he clashed regularly with Eto’o.

Eto’o enjoyed a glittering career, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest African footballers.

He helped Cameroon win the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games football tournament and was part of the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)-winning teams.

Eto’o featured at four World Cup and six AFCON tournaments and scored a record 18 goals in the African tournament.

President Bola Tinubu has called for obedience to the Supreme Court verdict in Rivers State, asking stakeholders to follow the law to the letter.

The Supreme Court recently nullified last year’s local government elections in the oil-rich state and also asked that Martin Amaewhule and the lawmakers he leads be recognised as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Weeks after the verdict, Tinubu told leaders of the Niger Delta under the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday to go back and ensure that the ruling is adhered to.

“This is a nation governed by the rule of law. I should not be here as President without a rule of law. I have total confidence in our judiciary. We have expectations. Human beings can make errors. But once the court has spoken, that is it,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga quoted his principal as saying.

“Please go back home and help implement the court rulings within the shortest possible time. I am putting the ball in your court. Help! Privately and openly intervene and counsel the governor. Pursue the path of peace and stability”.

Tinubu said he foresaw the crisis in Rivers State and made attempts to forestall it.

“Yes, Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg. We must care for the goose; otherwise, we lose the golden egg. I got your signal and your concern, particularly on Rivers State. I have been on the issue for quite some time. I foresaw the crisis festering for too long before I intervened,” he said.

“We reached an agreement, written agreement, and both parties signed.”

On his part, King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom and Co-Chairman of the PANDEF Board of Trustees, thanked the President for his commitment to South-South well-being and appointments given to Niger Delta indigenes.

“Your government has taken the bull by the horns, and we are sure you will succeed. We are here to give you our assurance and support. I can say now that God bless Nigeria and your government”.