Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare has claimed the 2025 Ebony Shoe Award at a ceremony in Belgium on Monday night.
Arokodare has been in top form for Genk this season, scoring 20 league goals and providing six assists.
The Nigerian beat a strong list of nominees to scoop the prestigious award given to the best African player in Belgium’s top flight for the 2024/25 season.
He edged out Genk teammate Zakaria El Ouahdi (Morocco), Union Saint-Gilloise duo Noah Sadiki (DR Congo) and Promise David (Canada), as well as Club Brugge and Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika.
Arokodare becomes the sixth Nigerian to win the award. The last was Paul Onuachu in 2021, also during his time at KRC Genk.
Tolu Arokodare with Vincent Kompany’s dad, Pierre Kompany after winning the African player of the year award in Belgium. pic.twitter.com/WM83X7JUwx
— Ojora Babatunde (@ojbsports) May 12, 2025
Which other Super Eagles have won Belgium’s Ebony Shoe?
Belgium has a long football history with Africa, which inspired the creation of the Ebony Shoe Award to honour the best-performing African players in the league each season.
This season, Super Eagles newbie Tolu Arokodare saw off other competitors to be awarded the Ebony Shoe and adds himself to an illustrious list of Nigerian players who have won the award.
For Nigeria, six players had previously won the award to date.
- Daniel Amokachi
- Victor Ikpeba
- Godwin Opara
- Celestine Babayaro
- Paul Onuachu
Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi was the first in 1992 while playing for Club Brugge. Victor Ikpeba followed in 1993 with RFC Liège.
Amokachi claimed his second title in 1994, before Godwin Okpara (Aalst) and Celestine Babayaro (Anderlecht) made it five straight Nigerian wins with victories in 1995 and 1996.
Ebony Shoe 2025: Tolu Arokodare 👑🤩@toluarokodare 💙
🔗 Meer info:https://t.co/DVk3dzRfH8#mijnploeg pic.twitter.com/XwHXoE6GJ6
— KRC Genk (@KRCGenkofficial) May 12, 2025
It took 25 years before another Nigerian would win it.
Paul Onuachu in 2021, after a fantastic season with Genk, won the award.
Now, Tolu Arokodare joins the elite list of Nigerian winners in 2025.
