By Akeem Lawal
SUPER Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has won the 2021 Ebony Shoe awards in Belgium following his performance for Genk in the 2020-21 season, Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports.
The Ebony Shoe prize is an annual award given to the best African player in the Belgian Pro League.
The Nigeria international saw off competition from Club Brugge's Clinton Mata (Angola) and Genk's Theo Bongonda (DR Congo) to the prize to succeed Dieumerci Mbokani - who represents Royal Antwerp.
The 26-year-old was a blistering forward in the 2020-21 campaign – helping John van den Brom’s Smurfs to finish as runners-up in the Belgian top-flight behind winners Club Brugge.
For his contributions, the 26-year-old found the net on 33 occasions in 38 league outings, amid other stunning displays.
His eye-catching performances also saw him win the 2020-21 Belgian League Player of the Year and winner of the Golden Boot award.
With this feat, Onuachu became the first Nigerian since Celestine Babayaro in 1996 to claim the honours, ending Nigeria’s 25-year wait for a trophy that once seems like the country’s birthright.
Daniel ‘Da Bull’ Amokachi, then starring in the colours of Club Brugge, was the first player to win the Ebony Shoe, which was instituted in 1992.
The power-playing forward reclaimed the best African player award two years later after RFC Liege striker Victor Ikpeba pipped Amokachi and defender Chidi Nwanu to the podium in 1993.
That year was the first – and it remains the only time – that players from the same country would emerge as the three finalists.
Versatile midfielder Godwin Okpara won it in 1995 after his excellent performances for Eendracht Aalst before Babayaro picked up what proved to be Nigeria’s last win to date.
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