Super Eagles duo Tolu Arokodare and Raphael Onyedika have been nominated for the prestigious Ebony Shoe award, which honours the best African player or player of African descent in the Belgian Pro League.
Arokodare has been outstanding for KRC Genk this season, netting 20 goals and providing five assists in 35 league matches under manager Thorsten Fink. Meanwhile, Onyedika has been a pillar for Club Brugge, contributing two goals and two assists across 47 appearances in all competitions, including a strong UEFA Champions League campaign.
Other nominees include Nigerian-born Canadian Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise), DR Congo international Noah Sadki, and Moroccan winger Zakaria El Ouahdi.
Notably, former Nigerian stars Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, Celestine Babayaro, and Paul Onuachu have previously won the Ebony Shoe. The 2024 awards ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 12, in Brussels.
Editorial
The nominations of Tolu Arokodare and Raphael Onyedika for the Ebony Shoe underscore the remarkable Nigerian footprint in European football. Both players represent different dimensions of excellence Arokodare, with his lethal goalscoring prowess, and Onyedika, with his tireless midfield orchestration.
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What’s even more satisfying is that their rise mirrors a new generation of Nigerian players who are not just participating in Europe they’re dominating. From Genk to Brugge, these players are no longer “potential stars”—they’re headline acts.
Awards like the Ebony Shoe matter because they celebrate African excellence in spaces where African players have historically fought for recognition. For Nigeria, this dual nomination is both a source of pride and a call to continue nurturing young talents who can compete and win at the highest levels.
Whether or not they lift the trophy, Arokodare and Onyedika have already set a powerful example Nigerian footballers belong at the top.
Did You Know?
- Daniel Amokachi won the inaugural Ebony Shoe award in 1992 while playing for Club Brugge.
- Tolu Arokodare’s 20-goal tally this season is the highest by a Nigerian in Belgium since Paul Onuachu’s record-breaking run in 2021.
- Raphael Onyedika moved to Club Brugge from Danish side FC Midtjylland in 2022, winning the Belgian Pro League title in his first season.
- The Ebony Shoe award is voted for by Belgian journalists, coaches, and former players.
- Victor Ikpeba won the award twice (1993 and 1994), becoming the first player to achieve back-to-back victories.
