Before Wolves disbanded for international duty, Tolu Arokodare had one request for a fellow African teammate.
Tolu Arokodare is currently fighting to save Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign, and he needed help from another Wolves man.
Nigeria came into the break needing two wins from two to salvage their chances of making next summer’s tournament. They’re half way to that goal, having won against Lesotho on Friday evening.
But it’s not fully up to them. The Super Eagles are also relying on results elsewhere, and a fellow Wolves star was enlisted to help.
Tolu Arokodare needed help from Marshall Munetsi
Though Tolu is just in the door at Molineux, he already feels comfortable reaching out to his teammates for help.
South Africa are the team Nigeria need to leap in order to secure a ticket to the World Cup, and Marshall Munetsi’s Zimbabwe were the ones tasked with facing them.
It’s only after South Africa were deducted three points that they fell within Nigeria’s reach. That penalty was given to them after they fielded an ineligible player against Lesotho last month.
Once the news emerged, Tolu began his campaign to convince Munetsi.
As All Nigeria Soccer reports: “Munetsi explained that Arokodare had been pressuring him about the fixture as soon as the points deduction was announced.
“He said his Nigerian teammate had been ‘on his case’ during training sessions, reminding him of the group’s new dynamics after South Africa’s punishment.”
Anything for your country, I guess.
Munetsi delivered for his Wolves teammate
Tolu’s World Cup dreams live on after Munetsi and Zimbabwe valiantly held South Africa to a 0-0 draw.
It’s fair to say South Africa dominated proceedings, managing 70% possession and 24 shots on goal to Zimbabwe’s six.
Things would be made more difficult when Knowledge Musona’s second yellow card left Zimbabwe with ten men for the last half hour, but they held on.
Another Wolves player, 21-year-old Tawanda Chirewa, played in front of Munetsi in the striker spot.
The result leaves the door open for Nigeria. If they can get a win over Benin, or if they draw and South Africa lose, they’ll be in business. That is a can’t-miss game for anyone looking to get their Wolves fix next week.
Depending on how Tuesday’s decisive ties go, Munetsi and Chirewa might well be in for a hero’s welcome when Wolves return from the break.