Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare and FC Twente forward Wout Weghorst have opened up about their friendship and shared Christian faith after praying together on the pitch following Sunday's 2-2 draw in the Eredivisie, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.
The two forwards held hands in prayer at the De Grolsch Veste in Enschede after an eventful encounter in which both found the net, with Weghorst scoring twice to earn Twente a point.
“We know each other well and have often had beautiful conversations about faith,” Weghorst told NOS.
Arokodare gave Ajax an early lead before Rayane Bounida extended their advantage in the second half. However, Weghorst struck twice, including a 95th-minute penalty, to complete Twente's comeback.
The 34-year-old explained that his relationship with Arokodare dates back to a friendly match against Burnley, when the Nigerian, who was then playing for Genk, approached him for advice.
“He came up to me after the match for tips. Since then, we have always kept in touch and have had many wonderful conversations, also about the Lord,” he said.
Weghorst disclosed that the prayer followed an embrace between the two players, revealing that Arokodare suggested they give thanks together.
“We are both believers, and we thanked each other. We gave each other a big hug, and then he said, ‘Shall we pray together for a moment?’ Then we gave thanks together for a moment. It was a beautiful afternoon, a beautiful football afternoon. We both played an important role.”
Arokodare also recalled how he first became interested in Weghorst, revealing that he admired the Dutchman's work ethic during his time at Burnley.
“I’m a Manchester United fan. When he played there, I was very surprised at his work ethic,” he told ESPN Netherlands.
“When we played against Burnley, I was looking for him after the game, and he was in the gym.”
The Nigerian said Weghorst offered him advice on pressing and the importance of maintaining the right mentality to contribute to the team.
“He told me it’s all about having a top mentality to help the team any way I can,” he said.
Arokodare also expressed his appreciation for the impact of faith in Weghorst's life, while jokingly encouraging the forward to leave some goals for other players.
“I’m happy to see the impact of God in his life, and I hope God keeps blessing him. I hope he scores more goals, but he should slow down a bit; some of us want to score too.”
The 25-year-old has enjoyed an impressive campaign, scoring 13 goals and providing four assists in 17 appearances across competitions, including seven Eredivisie goals and six in the UEFA Conference League. He joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with an option to buy.
Weghorst, meanwhile, has scored five goals in his last three matches.
Arokodare is also part of Eric Chelle's 24-man Super Eagles squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifying double-header against Tanzania, with the first meeting scheduled for November 13 in Uyo before the return fixture on November 17 in Zanzibar.