Super Eagles: Genk striker Arokodare ecstatic after beating Onyedika to win African award

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare has expressed immense joy after making history as the sixth Nigerian to win the prestigious Ebony Shoe award, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Ebony Shoe award honours the best African or African-origin player in the Belgian Pro League.

The Genk forward beat tough competition from fellow Nigerian Raphael Onyedika, DR Congo’s Noah Sadiki, Moroccan star Zakaria El Ouahdi, and former Nigeria youth international Promise David.

Arokodare received the award from Pierre Kompany, the father of former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, during a ceremony, which capped off an impressive campaign in the Belgian top flight.

“I’m happy, I’m very happy. I’m speechless at the same time, but I’m very grateful and very honoured because this is a lot,” Arokodare told RG in an exclusive interview.

“I heard that I’m the sixth Nigerian to be winning this, and it’s a huge accomplishment for me in my career to be able to put my name in the history books of Belgian football and also Nigerian football.”

Arokodare now joins an elite list of Nigerian greats to have clinched the Ebony Shoe, including Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, Celestine Babayaro, and Paul Onuachu.

Although Arokodare was not at his best in the previous season for the Belgian side, he has been excellent in the 2024–25 season campaign, where he has scored 17 goals and provided six assists for the Jupiler Pro League side.

This has further earned him a call-up to don the colours of the Nigerian Super Eagles, and he will feature for the country in their upcoming mini Unity Cup tournament in Brentford.