Nigerian international forward Paul Onuachu is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Antwerp forward Dieumerci Mbokani as the best African player in Belgium for the 2020/21 season when the Ebony Shoe award ceremony holds Monday evening.
The Ebony Shoe award is a football award in Belgium given annually to the best African or African origin player in the Belgian Pro League.
Onuachu has been nominated for the award alongside his teammate at Genk, Théo Bongonda who scored 18 goals and bagged six appearances in 39 games in all competitions; RSC Anderlecht’s duo of Albert Sambi Lokonga who scored just thrice in 37 games in all competitions and Lukas Nmecha who scored 21 times in 41 games.
Also nominated is Club Brugge’s Angola defender, Clinton Mata who scored once in 49 appearances.
Onuachu is the top scorer in the Belgian Pro-League with 29 goals in 33 appearances. He scored four times in five games in the Jupiler Pro League PlayOff and once in the Beker van Belgie to bring his total tally to 35 in 41 games.
The Super Eagles forward will be hoping to become the fifth Nigerian to win the award after Daniel Amiokachi (1992,1994), Victor Ikpeba (1993), Godwin Okapara (1995) and Celestine Babayaro (1996).
As of 2020, Mbark Boussoufa (3 wins), Daniel Amokachi (2 wins), Vincent Kompany (2 wins) and Dieumerci Mbokani (2) are the only players to have won the trophy more than once.
The jury that will determine who succeeds Mbokani is composed of the coaches of league clubs, the Belgian national team manager, sport journalists, and one or more honorary jurors.