Arokodare’s successor: Morocco star beats Nigeria’s Onyedika to Ebony Shoe award

AFCON 2025 standout: Raphael Onyedika. Photo Credit: CAF/X

Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika has been beaten to the 2026 Belgian Ebony Shoe, as Morocco’s Zakaria El Ouahdi emerged winner on a landmark night in Brussels, Soccernet.ng reports.

The award ceremony, held on Monday, May 4, confirmed El Ouahdi as the best African or African-descended player in Belgium this season. The KRC Genk right-back edged a strong field to take the prize, becoming one of the few defenders in recent years to win it.

El Ouahdi’s triumph is also significant because he replaces his old Genk teammate, Nigeria’s Tolu Arokodare, who claimed the award in 2025.

Soccer Why El Ouahdi edged Onyedika to the prize

The central reason El Ouahdi won, and why Onyedika fell short, comes down to impact, numbers, and consistency across the season.

From a defensive position, El Ouahdi delivered remarkable attacking output. He scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 41 matches across all competitions. Those numbers are exceptional for a defender and immediately separate him from traditional defenders.

Even more impressive was the challenge he had to overcome this campaign. El Ouahdi missed around two months of the season due to a shoulder injury, but returned without losing rhythm. Despite KRC Genk struggling as a team and missing out on the league’s top play-offs, he remained their standout performer, a key factor voters could not ignore.

By contrast, Onyedika’s season was defined by control rather than headline numbers. At Club Brugge, he continues to impress by combining defensive work with smart distribution. The former FC Midtjylland ace made 29 league appearances, dictating tempo with elite passing numbers, and added two goals and one assist in the UEFA Champions League as Brugge reached the quarter-finals.

One of his standout moments came in a 4-1 win over AS Monaco, where he scored with a clinical finish. He also contributed 1.64 tackles and 0.96 interceptions per 90 minutes, reinforcing his reputation as a balanced midfielder.

However, when placed side by side with El Ouahdi’s direct goal contributions, the difference becomes clear. The Moroccan defender’s numbers were simply more decisive in shaping matches, which strengthened his case for the award.

The final standings reflected that margin. El Ouahdi finished first, ahead of Union Saint-Gilloise’s Adem Zorgane in second, while Onyedika placed third. Promise David, a former Nigeria youth international and now a Canadian international, and Parfait Guiagon completed the shortlist.

Despite Onyedika missing out on the award, Nigeria retain a proud Ebony Shoe history. Six Nigerian stars have claimed the prestigious honour with Daniel Amokachi winning the inaugural edition. The former Club Brugge forward also remains the only Super Eagles star to clinch the award twice. Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, Celestine Babayaro, Paul Onuachu and Arokodare have all been recipients of the Belgian Ebony Shoe.

Imhonlamhen

Imhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years’ experience shaping its editorial voice. A lifelong Arsenal and Super Eagles fan, he combines engineering precision with training in journalism and digital media. He has covered four AFCONs and two Women’s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.