European Night to Remember: Tolu Arokodare and Cyriel Dessers Fire Ajax and Panathinaikos into Conference League Phase

Nigerian forward play took center stage across Europe on Thursday night as both Tolu Arokodare and Cyriel Dessers delivered match-winning double strikes to propel their respective sides into the UEFA Conference League phase.

In Amsterdam, Arokodare marked his first competitive start for Ajax with a commanding display, inspiring the Dutch giants to a 5-3 win over FC Sion at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Building on his goal-and-assist impact off the bench in the first leg, the 25-year-old stepped up when Ajax trailed 2-1 midway through the first half.

Arokodare restored the lead in the 45th minute, latching onto Abdellah Ouazane’s cross before firing home, then doubled his tally six minutes after the restart with a top-corner finish.

His explosive start in Amsterdam now stands at four goals and two assists in just five appearances since joining on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping Ajax secure a 9-5 victory on aggregate.

Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, Cyriel Dessers produced dramatic late heroics off the bench to guide Panathinaikos past Hradec Králové.

With the tie locked at 2-2 following the first leg in Athens, the 31-year-old entered the match in the 59th minute and instantly turned the tide.

Dessers put the Greek side ahead in the 72nd minute with a powerful header from a Vicente Taborda free-kick.

After Hradec Králové forced extra time with a 90th-minute equaliser, Dessers stepped up once more in the dying moments.

Winning a penalty deep into stoppage time, the Super Eagles forward coolly dispatched the spot-kick in the 120+5th minute to seal a 2-1 win on the night and a 4-3 aggregate triumph.