{
    "title": "El Ouahdi wins Ebony Shoe award in Belgium",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-05 07:27:41",
    "published_at": "2026-05-05 07:27:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/el-ouahdi-wins-ebony-shoe-award-in-belgium",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/cSEd",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "el-ouahdi-wins-ebony-shoe-award-in-belgium",
    "body": "<p><strong> El Ouahdi has won the 35th Ebony Shoe, given each year to the best player of African descent in Belgium&rsquo;s top league, the Jupiler Pro League.</strong></p><p>The KRC Genk right-back received the prize at a gala in Brussels on Monday night. He finished ahead of Adem Zorgane (Union) and Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), with Promise David and Parfait Guiagon also nominated.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very happy with this recognition. The competition was strong, and everyone deserved to win&rdquo;, El Ouahdi said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honour to be on the list of past winners.&rdquo;</p><blockquote><em>&ldquo;The competition was strong, and everyone deserved to win&rdquo;</em></blockquote><p>The 23-year-old, who represents Morocco internationally, impressed this season with his attacking play from defence, scoring several goals despite missing about two months with a shoulder injury. He has also spoken of his ambition to play at the next World Cup.</p><p>Genk did not qualify for the league&rsquo;s top play-offs, but El Ouahdi remained one of their standout performers. His contract runs until 2028, though a summer transfer is possible.</p><p>The award continues a strong run for Genk, with the club producing several recent winners, including Tolu Arokodare in 2025.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><sup>Zakaria El Ouahdi wins the Ebony Shoe award &copy; BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND</sup></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
    "header": {
        "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/42d3912c-c47f-43ed-af24-f0aed8d7b2da/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/",
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    },
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
    },
    "format_version": 5
}