Zakaria El Ouahdi Wins Ebony Shoe Award in Belgium

Zakaria El Ouahdi, a Moroccan right back playing for KRC Genk, has been awarded the Ebony Shoe, recognizing him as the best African player in the Belgian Pro League. El Ouahdi had a standout season, contributing 12 goals and five assists across 41 appearances.

He becomes the third Moroccan to win this prestigious award, following Mbark Boussoufa (2006, 2009, 2010) and Tarik Tissoudali (2022). The Ebony Shoe award also saw nominations for other players, including Frank Onyeka, who plays for Brentford and had 29 league appearances without scoring.

Other nominees included Nigerian-born forward Promis David, representing Canada, Parfait Guiagon from Royal Charleroi SC, and Adem Zorgane from Union Saint-Gilloise. The award highlights the achievements of African players in the Belgian top flight, with El Ouahdi's performance marking a significant milestone in his career.