Moroccan footballer edges out Onyedika for prestigious Ebony Shoe award

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Raphael Onyedika missed out on this year’s Ebony Shoe award, which recognises the best African player in the Belgian Pro League, losing out to Zakaria El Ouahdi of KRC Genk, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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At 24, the Moroccan right-back has enjoyed a standout season, emerging as one of Genk’s most influential players with 12 goals and five assists in 41 appearances.

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El Ouahdi becomes the third Moroccan to win the prize, following Mbark Boussoufa (2006, 2009, 2010) and Tarik Tissoudali (2022).

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He had earlier won the Belgian Lion in 2025—an award for players of North African origin in the Belgian top flight—before edging out Onyedika and three others to succeed Tolu Arokodare as Ebony Shoe winner.

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Other nominees included Nigerian-born forward Promise David, who now represents Canada internationally, Parfait Guiagon of Royal Charleroi SC, and Adem Zorgane of Union Saint-Gilloise.

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Arokodare, who now plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, won the award last season while at Genk.

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Unlike the winner, Onyedika scored one goal in 29 league appearances.

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David also enjoyed a productive campaign, scoring 15 goals in 37 matches across all competitions before suffering a hip injury in February 2026.

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With El Ouahdi’s emergence, Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, Celestine Babayaro, Paul Onuachu and Arokodare remain the Nigerians who have won the Ebony Shoe.

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