Racing Genk of Belgium striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu has been officially confirmed as winner of the Ebony Boot Award for emerging the best African player in the Belgian Jupiler League this season, megasportsarena.com reports.
This means the former Young Stars of Lagos, FC Ebedie of Shagamu and FC Midtjylland of Denmark giant Onuachu has joined previous Nigerian winners of the gong – Daniel Amokachi, Godwin Okpara, Celestine Babayaro and Victor Ikpeba.
Onuachu got the nod on the strength of emerging top scorer in the league with 34 goals as well as the most valuable player, after helping Genk win the Belgian Cup and he went on to win the Golden Boot.
Onuachu’s surge comes against his stunning performances with The Smurfs, and he saw off competition from Club Brugge’s Clinton Mata and Genk’s Theo Bongonda to succeed Dieumerci Mbokani of Royal Antwerp.
A report by goal.com added: “Onuachu was in 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, he becomes the fifth Nigerian to claim the prize after Daniel Amokachi (1992 and 1994), Victor Ikpeba (1993), Godwin Okpara (1995), and Celestine Babayaro (1996).
“Babayaro was the last Super Eagle to claim the diadem after seeing off competition from the Congolese duo of Michel Ngonge and Jean-Claude Mukanya.
“Also, Onuachu is the fourth player from Genk to win the Ebony Shoe after Guinea’s Souleymane Oulare (1999), Burkina Faso’s Moumouni Dagano (2002) and Tanzania’s Mbwana Samatta (2019).
“The forward has two years left on his current contract, but he is unsure about seeing out the deal, with a number of European clubs believed to be interested in his services.”
