Super Eagles duo Tolu Arokodare and Raphael Onyedika, along with former Nigeria youth international Promise David, have all been nominated for the 2025 Ebony Shoe award, which honors the best African player or player of African descent in the Belgian Pro League.
The Ebony Shoe award, established in 1992, has grown into a prestigious honour celebrating African talents who shine in Belgium. The winner is selected by a panel consisting of coaches from Belgian top-division clubs, the national team manager, sports journalists, and occasionally honorary judges.
Arokodare’s nomination for the award is a result of his outstanding performances for Genk, who are battling to claim their first league title since 2019. The Nigerian striker leads the league in goals (20) and also has the highest number of goal contributions (25).
On the other hand, Raphael Onyedika has been a constant presence in midfield for Club Brugge, who currently sit second in the Championship Playoff standings. The midfielder started 26 league matches and has also featured in the starting lineup in all five of their playoff games so far.
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Promise David and Union St. Gilloise currently lead the playoff standings with 43 points. The 23-year-old has been outstanding for his team, netting 11 goals during the regular season and adding five more in five playoff matches, as they push for their first league title since 1935.
Tolu Arokodare, Raphael Onyedika, and Promise David will face competition from Union St. Gilloise’s Noah Sadiki and Genk’s Zakaria El Ouahdi, the other two nominees for the 2025 Ebony Shoe Award. The winner is set to be announced on May 12, 2025.
Several Nigerian players have been recognised with the prestigious Ebony Shoe Award, with Nigerians dominating the honor for five consecutive years as Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, and Celestine Babayaro claimed the prize between 1992 and 1996.
After a 25-year gap, Paul Onuachu brought the award back to Nigeria, following a remarkable season where he finished as the league’s top scorer and also won the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year and the Belgian Golden Shoe.
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