Zakaria El Ouahdi wins Ebony Shoe 2026

Morocco national team defender Zakaria El Ouahdi has won the 35th Ebony Shoe, the award for the best player of African descent in the Jupiler Pro League.

The trophy was presented during the African Awards 2026 gala ceremony.

Ebony Shoe 2026: Zakaria El Ouahdi 👑🤩#riseabove pic.twitter.com/a6dnfwVOxd

— KRC Genk (@KRCGenkofficial) May 4, 2026

With this achievement, Zakaria followed in the footsteps of former winner Tolu Arokodare and other ex-Genk players such as Moumou Dagano, Souleymane Oulare, Paul Onuachu, Mike Trésor and Ally Samatta.

Raphael Onyedika sealed podium finish

Adem Zorgane of Union finished in second place, while Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge completed the podium.

In September 2023, El Ouahdi made the move from RWDM to KRC Genk. The right-back is enjoying an outstanding 2025-26 season, making 41 appearances.

During that time, he has recorded 12 goals and 5 assists, impressive numbers for a defender.

Notably, it is already the fifth time in the past eight years that a KRC Genk player has won the award. Previously, Mbwana Samatta (2019), Paul Onuachu (2021), Trésor (2023) and Arokodare (2025) all received the Ebony Shoe.

In 2021, Onuachu won the Ebony Shoe, becoming the first Nigerian to win it in 25 years while also winning the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year and being the top scorer in Belgium.

El Ouadhi chose to represent Morocco

Holding both Belgian and Moroccan citizenship, El Ouadhi chose to represent Morocco in international level. He was called up by coach Issame Charaï in Morocco U-23 squad for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

El Ouadhi appeared in four out of five matches during the tournament, and scored one goal against Mali U-23 in the semi-final match. Morocco U-23 won the tournament as El Ouadhi figured in the competition’s team of the tournament as the best right-back.

El Ouadhi earned his first senior call-up for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho in September 2024, but remained on the bench for both games.