Black Stars defender Nana Akwesi Asare has been shortisted for the 2009 Ebony Award- an award for the best African player in the Belgian Jupiler League- after an impressiing this term with KV Mechelen.

The 22-year-old skippered Mechelen to the top flight this term but lost his captaincy after sustaining a groin injury during last year's African Cup of Nations on home soil.

Mechelen are currently 10th on the League table and will play Cercle Brugge on Saturday.

The left-back face stiff opposition from four other shortlisted candidates: 2006 winner Mbark Boussoufa from Morroco and Anderlecht, Ivory Coast's Barry Copa of Lokeren) and Standard Liege duo: DRC's Dieumerci Mbokani and Senegalese Mohamed Sarr.

The winner will be announced on Monday 11 May at the Marriott Hotel in Brussels, after the counting of the 2nd round of voting.

The jury awards the Ebony Shoe is composed of the national selector, René Vandereycken, all the coaches of the three national divisions, members of the sports editors of the country (written and audio-visual) and members of a jury Honorary chaired by Georges Heylens.

The 2008 winner of the Ebony Shoe was former Standard Liege forward Marouane Fellaini now at Everton in England.