Ajax striker Tolu Arokodare has revealed that Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen advised him to pay tribute to injured teammate Kasper Dolberg by showing the Danish striker’s jersey to supporters after scoring.

Arokodare disclosed the conversation after Ajax played out a 1-1 draw with NEC at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam on Saturday.

The Nigerian forward explained that the gesture was inspired by Osimhen, who encouraged him to honour Dolberg following the injury that has ruled the Ajax striker out of action.

Speaking after the match, Arokodare admitted that displaying Dolberg’s shirt was not originally his idea. He credited Osimhen for suggesting the tribute and expressed gratitude to the Galatasaray striker for the advice.

“I wanted to do something like this [show Dolberg’s Jersey to the fans]. Or rather, it wasn’t my idea; Osimhen told me, ‘You should do something like this,’ and I did. I thank him for that.”

Dolberg suffered a knee injury during a training session with the Denmark national team while on international duty. The 29-year-old subsequently underwent successful surgery on his right knee in Copenhagen on Tuesday and is expected to continue his recovery through rehabilitation.

Arokodare’s decision to honour his injured teammate followed a similar gesture by Osimhen at Galatasaray. The Nigerian striker had previously displayed Mauro Icardi’s jersey to supporters after the Argentine forward sustained an injury.

Osimhen’s suggestion to Arokodare reflected that earlier tribute, with the Ajax forward carrying out the idea to show support for Dolberg during a difficult period in the Danish player’s recovery.

The exchange also highlighted the connection between the two Nigerian forwards, with Osimhen offering advice to Arokodare on how to acknowledge his teammate’s absence.

For Ajax, Dolberg’s injury means the striker must focus on rehabilitation before returning to action. Arokodare, meanwhile, will continue his work with the Dutch side as the team looks to build on its performances in the league.

The 1-1 draw against NEC provided the setting for Arokodare to explain the inspiration behind the gesture and publicly acknowledge Osimhen’s role in encouraging him to show solidarity with Dolberg.