Arokodare threat: Former striker sounds the alarm ahead of Antwerp v Racing Genk showdown

As anticipation builds ahead of the Jupiler Pro League playoff showdown between Royal Antwerp and Racing Genk on Wednesday night, former Genk striker Patrick Goots has issued a stern warning to the Antwerp to keep a close eye on Nigerian forward Tolu Arokodare.

Goots, offering his expert analysis of the playoff fixtures on Belgian outlet GVA, highlighted Arokodare as a critical figure in Genk’s title charge and urged Antwerp head coach Andries Ulderink to craft a game plan specifically to neutralize the in-form striker at the Bosuilstadion.

"Ulderink will have to make good choices again against Genk and Tolu Arokodare. Hopefully we won't get a repeat of the scenario with Rosen Bozhinov and Promise David," Gazet van Antwerpen in-house analyst Goots said.

Arokodare has been instrumental for Genk this season, bagging 19 goals and contributing six assists in 34 league appearances.

His prolific form has kept Genk firmly in the race for their fifth league crown, having previously lifted the title in the 1998–99, 2001–02, 2010–11, and 2018–19 seasons.

Reflecting on Antwerp’s 5–1 drubbing by Union St. Gilloise in their last outing—where Promise David scored and Rosen Bozhinov was shown a red card—Goots emphasized the need for a more disciplined defensive approach.

He suggested that Antwerp’s young defender Zeno Van den Bosch could be pivotal in keeping Arokodare quiet.

"Zeno Van den Bosch will have to stay in the zone of truth with Tolu,” Goots advised, hinting at a man-marking assignment to limit the striker’s space and impact.

Despite Goots' concerns, Racing Genk would be counting on Arokodare to deliver yet again as they seek a crucial result away from home.

A win would bolster their title ambitions and reaffirm Arokodare’s status as one of the league’s standout performers.

Adeyemi Adewale

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