Kpaka is Africa's goal king in Belgium

Five African players have been nominated for the top African football prize in Belgium.

The Ebony Boot Award winner will be announced at a ceremony in Brussels on Friday.

Ivorians dominate the nominees with Aruna Dindane, Arouna Kone, and Gneri Yaya Toure in contention.

Strikers Paul Kpaka of Sierra Leone and Guinean Sembegou Bangoura complete the shortlist.

The Ebony award emerged out of the disaffection of a group of African students who grew tired of seeing African players being sidelined for individual honours.

Fourteen years ago, they set up "Le Soulier d'Ebene" - the Ebony Boot - to redress the imbalance.

Coaches of the teams in Belgium's top three divisions are the ones who vote for the winner.

Last year, the winner was Burkina Faso and Genk striker Beli Moumouni Dagano.

Award nominees:

Aruna DINDANE(RSC Anderlecht) The 22 year old Ivorian was a nominee last year. The striker, who made his name with ASEC Abidjan, seems to be coming of age three years after landing in Belgium.

Dindane came to Belgium from Asec

Sambegou BANGOURA(Lokeren) The Guinean, who has only just turned 21, has banged in 17 goals for Lokeren, a team which regularly starts with six or seven Africansplayers. Another repeat nominee, Bangoura will not stay with Lokeren for long - he moves to Standard Liege at the end of the season.

Paul KPAKA(Germinal Beerschot) The Sierra Leonean international is the one Anglophone among the nominees. Kpaka is also the top African goalscorer in the league, having hit the back of the net 20 times already.

Arouna KONE(Lierse) The youngest of those on the list, Kone is just 19 and in his first season in Belgium. Kone did not come from the legendary Asec Abidjan production line. He made his name at Rio Sport d'Ayame Abidjan.

Gneri Yaya TOURE(Beveren) One of the many Ivorians at Beveren, Yaya Toure - who did come from Asec - is the younger brother of Arsenal's Kolo Toure. "He is much better than me!" is Kolo's judgement of Yaya.