Morocco’s Zakaria El Ouahdi Beats Raphael Onyedika To Claim 2026 Belgian Ebony Shoe Award

Posted : 06 May 2026

KRC Genk right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi has officially won the 2026 Ebony Shoe award; recognizing him as the finest player of African descent in the Belgian Pro League. The Moroccan international received the prestigious trophy during a gala ceremony held in Brussels on Monday night. He succeeds his former teammate; Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare; who won the prize in 2025 before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 23-year-old defender enjoyed a statistically dominant campaign despite missing two months of action due to a shoulder injury. El Ouahdi recorded an impressive 12 goals and five assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for Genk. His ability to provide elite offensive output from a defensive position made him the favorite among voters. He becomes the third Moroccan player to win the award; joining the likes of Mbark Boussoufa and Tarik Tissoudali.

Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika finished third in the final standings. The Club Brugge star was a vital component of his team’s run to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. While Onyedika dictated play with a high pass completion rate and averaged 1.64 tackles per game; his goal tally was lower than his competitors. He managed one goal in 29 league matches; though he did score a memorable clinical finish against AS Monaco in Europe.

The second-place spot went to Adem Zorgane of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise; who also enjoyed a standout year in the Belgian top flight. Other nominees on the five-man shortlist included Nigerian-born Canadian international Promise David and Parfait Guiagon of Royal Charleroi. Promise David had scored 15 goals before a hip injury in February sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Nigeria retains a rich history with the Ebony Shoe; having produced six previous winners. Daniel Amokachi remains the only player to win the award twice; with other recipients including Victor Ikpeba and Paul Onuachu. While Onyedika missed out on the trophy; his performances have reportedly attracted interest from clubs in the English Premier League and German Bundesliga. He is expected to be a key figure for Nigeria in the upcoming international window.

Morocco’s Zakaria El Ouahdi Beats Raphael Onyedika To Claim 2026 Belgian Ebony Shoe Award

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