Nigerian stars Raphael Onyedika and Tolu Arokodare were both in contention for the the Belgian Pro League with their respective clubs, Club Brugge and Genk, but narrowly missed out, Footynaija.com reports.
The title race for the 2024/2025 season went right down to the wire, but in the end, it was Union Saint-Gilloise (USG) who emerged champions after a dramatic final day.
USG sealed the title with a 3-1 victory over Gent, bringing their total to 56 points and ending a long 90-year wait for domestic glory. The historic win, confirmed on the final matchday, left Club Brugge and Genk just behind with 53 and 51 points respectively, in what was one of the tightest finishes to a Belgian league season in recent memory.
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For Raphael Onyedika who won the league title with his club in the previous campaign, it was a season of consistent performances in midfield for Club Brugge. The 24-year-old Super Eagles player made 25 appearances and contributed one goal, helping his side maintain their position among the frontrunners.
Club Brugge’s 1-1 draw against Antwerp on the final day, however, meant they could not leapfrog USG, despite being just three points adrift.
Meanwhile, Tolu Arokodare, who recently got his first Super Eagles call-up earlier this year, enjoyed a standout season individually for Genk.
The 24-year-old striker scored 21 league goals and, as reported earlier by Footynaija, was rewarded with the 2025 Ebony Shoe award, which is an award given to the best player of African descent in Belgium.
His goals kept Genk in the title chase, but a series of draws late in the campaign saw them finish third with 51 points.
This season’s top-six playoff format meant that even small slip-ups carried big consequences. USG made no such mistake, securing three wins in their last four matches, while both Club Brugge and Genk dropped points when it mattered most.
For USG, this triumph marks a return to the summit after nearly a century, while for the Nigerian duo, it is a lesson in fine margins at the top level.
