Nigeria forward Tolu Arokodare and Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst put football rivalry aside to share an emotional moment of prayer following FC Twente’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Ajax in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
The two players held hands and prayed together for almost three minutes after the final whistle at De Grolsch Veste, attracting attention from spectators and television cameras.
Arokodare had given Ajax an early advantage, while Weghorst scored twice for Twente, including a stoppage-time penalty that secured a point for the home side.
Footage of the pair standing together with their heads bowed was shared by ESPN NL on X. Their team-mates had already left the pitch, but the two forwards remained behind, demonstrating a friendship that extends beyond their professional football careers.
Weghorst later revealed that their shared Christian faith and conversations over several years had made the prayer a natural conclusion to the encounter.
• A dramatic afternoon in Enschede
Arokodare wasted little time making his presence felt, heading Ajax into the lead just three minutes into the match following a cross from Oscar Gloukh.
Ajax strengthened their position in the second half when Rayane Bounida scored to make it 2-0, putting the visitors in a commanding position as they looked to secure victory.
However, Twente refused to surrender on home soil.
Weghorst emerged as the key figure in the hosts’ comeback, scoring twice to bring his side level and deny Ajax what appeared to be a certain victory.
His second goal came from the penalty spot in the 95th minute after Lucas Rosa was penalised for pulling Ramiz Zerrouki’s shirt.
The late equaliser completed a remarkable recovery for Twente and left Ajax disappointed after surrendering their two-goal advantage.
Despite being opponents during the contest, Arokodare and Weghorst shared a warm embrace after the final whistle before deciding to pray together.
• Weghorst explains the friendship behind the prayer
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Weghorst explained that his relationship with the Nigerian forward had developed through their shared interest in faith.
“We know each other well and have often had beautiful conversations about faith,” the former Manchester United striker said.
Their friendship reportedly began following a friendly encounter between KRC Genk and Burnley. Arokodare approached the Dutch striker after the match, seeking advice about his football career.
According to Weghorst, that initial conversation developed into a lasting relationship, with the two maintaining contact and regularly discussing their beliefs.
“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,” Weghorst said.
He also provided an account of how the post-match prayer came about, explaining that the two players embraced before 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.”
The explanation offered further insight into a moment that attracted considerable attention in the Netherlands, particularly because it followed such a fiercely contested match.
• Public prayer sparks debate in the Netherlands
While the gesture was a meaningful expression of friendship and religious belief for the two footballers, it also attracted criticism from some commentators.
Dutch pundit Johan Derksen was among those who questioned the public display of religion.
Speaking on the Groeten uit Grolloo podcast, Derksen described the incident as “religious madness” and argued that what happened after the match “borders on religious fanaticism”.
Weghorst has previously been open about his Christian faith throughout his professional career. However, rather than engaging in a public disagreement with the pundit, the striker responded with another reference to his religious beliefs.
On Monday, speaking through De Telegraaf’s Kick-Off podcast, Weghorst revealed that he had prayed for Derksen earlier that morning.
The exchange has added another dimension to the discussion surrounding the incident, which has generated reactions beyond the footballing significance of Sunday’s result.
