Ebony Shoe: Belgian midfielder beat Gift Orban and Victor Boniface to scoop award

This season, Gift Orban and Victor Boniface both excelled in the Jupiler Pro League, and their work was honoured with an award nomination

KRC Genk forward, Mike Trésor Ndayishimiye, won the Ebony Shoe award over two Nigerian forwards, Victor Boniface and Gift Orban, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Ebony Shoe is a household award in Belgian football, awarded annually to the best player with African roots in the competition.

Along with Joseph Paintsil, Mike Trésor, and Bilal El Khannouss, two Nigerian friends, Orban and Boniface, were nominated for the award this season.

However, the 23-year-old outperformed both Boniface, who was outstanding for Union Saint Gilloise, scoring a total of 22 goals while dishing out 11 assists for his team, and Orban, who scored 20 goals in 19 appearances for KAA Gent this season.

Orban, who switched from Stabaek Fotbal to the Belgian team in the January transfer window, received a striking nomination from trainers, journalists, and a professional panel who were able to vote for the Ebony Shoe winner.

Meanwhile, despite not winning the award, it was enough to show that the Nigerian’s goal-scoring prowess in the league has established him as an outstanding player who will be chasing bigger awards in the future.

The 20-year-old, who reportedly came third in the nomination, is said to have piqued the interest of Jose Peseiro, who will be tempted to employ his service in the Super Eagles squad when they travel to face Sierra Leone in June for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.