Tolu Arokodare has etched his name into Belgian football history by clinching the 2025 Ebony Shoe award, an accolade reserved for the top-performing player of African descent in Belgium’s premier division.
The 24-year-old Nigerian striker’s stellar form with KRC Genk earned him this prestigious honour.
Arokodare edged out four formidable contenders for the award: his Genk colleague Zakaria El Ouahdi of Morocco, Union Saint-Gilloise pair Noah Sadiki (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Promise David (Canada), and fellow Nigerian Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge.
Under coach Thorsten Fink’s leadership, Arokodare thrived in the Jupiler Pro League, delivering 20 goals and six assists.
He added two more goals in the Belgian Cup, showcasing his all-round attacking prowess throughout the campaign.
His impressive club form paved the way for international recognition. Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle called him up for the first time in March for FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Arokodare made his debut against Rwanda and came off the bench again versus Zimbabwe.
The Ebony Shoe was presented at the 2025 African Awards Gala, held at the Tangla Hotel in Brussels on Monday night.
Arokodare now becomes the sixth Nigerian to receive the award, following in the footsteps of Daniel Amokachi (1992, 1994), Victor Ikpeba (1993), Godwin Okpara (1995), Celestine Babayaro (1996), and Paul Onuachu (2021).
The award, established in 1992 by African Culture Promotion, seeks to recognize the contributions of African and African-origin players who often go unnoticed in traditional award circuits.
Winners are determined by a jury made up of club managers, the Belgian national team coach, prominent journalists, and honorary panelists.
Among previous winners are renowned names like Vincent Kompany, Dieumerci Mbokani, and Mbark Boussoufa, who holds a record three Ebony Shoe titles.
With two league games remaining, Arokodare is also within touching distance of the Golden Boot, as he looks to round off what could be a breakthrough year in his football career.
