Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare continued his impressive goalscoring form in the Eredivisie, but his early strike was not enough to earn Ajax all three points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by NEC Nijmegen on Saturday evening.

Arokodare opened the scoring in the Matchday 8 encounter at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, giving the Amsterdam club an early advantage before the visitors fought back to secure a share of the spoils.

The Super Eagles forward produced a superb header after Jorthy Mokio delivered a cross from the right flank. Having escaped his marker, Arokodare rose above the defenders to direct the ball into the net.

The goal extended his scoring run to consecutive league matches following his strike in Ajax’s 2-2 draw against Excelsior.

The 25-year-old has now scored seven goals in 10 appearances across all competitions this season, including four in the Eredivisie. His overall contribution also stands at nine goal involvements, with four goals and one assist in the league, alongside three goals and one assist in European competition.

However, Ajax were unable to preserve their lead as NEC Nijmegen responded 12 minutes after the opener. Tjaronn Chery converted a penalty to restore parity and leave the hosts frustrated.

Despite Arokodare’s contribution, Ajax could not find a winning goal before the final whistle. The Nigerian striker was substituted in the 73rd minute, with Marcos Leonardo taking his place.

Arokodare returned to club action after featuring for Nigeria during the recent international break, when the Super Eagles faced Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Although his playing time during the international fixtures was limited, the striker has continued to make an impact for Ajax with his consistent goalscoring performances.

His latest effort could strengthen his chances of retaining a starting place as the Dutch side prepare for their next Conference League fixture against Hajduk Split.

For Arokodare, the immediate objective will be to maintain his scoring momentum. Ajax, meanwhile, will be looking to turn their forward’s individual contributions into victories as they seek greater consistency in the weeks ahead.