Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Craig Bellamy and Nwankwo Kanu are among the Premier League footballers shortlisted for the 2^nd SCORE4africa Awards at London’s Sheraton Park Lane, on 30^th November 2009.

Actor and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah hosts the prestigious awards ceremony which celebrates the power of football to transform lives.

Didier Drogba, a winner last year, is up for for this year’s health award, recently astonished the public by committing the £3 million he received from a Pepsi endorsement deal to building a hospital and orphanage in his country, Cote D’Ivore.

He’s also up against Michael Essien and Nwankwo Kanu for the People’s Choice Award.

Craig Bellamy is another who has been shortlisted a number of times in the Education and Foundation category for his Sierra Leone has been nominated

Other organisations such as Kick it Out and Coaches across Continents, using football for development are also in contention for the SCORE4africa Award categories which include Peace, Health, Youth, People’s Choice, Green, Education, foundation, Diversity, Mentoring, Partnership and Lifetime Achievement. See below for the full shortlist.

AfriPOP! will be amongst the star studded audience of celebrities, politicians and business people expected.

‘It’s a very exciting short list, reflecting the high profile individuals and grassroots organisations making a difference through football.  Didier Drogba’s £3 million contribution this year and Craig Bellamy’s donation of £500,000 have obviously set a new bar,’ said Onyekachi Wambu, one of the event’s organisers.

Co-event organiser, Ayo Alli added: ‘The strength of the shortlist reflects the growing importance to development in Africa and is a challenge to the entire football world to do more.’

Judges for the awards include Marcel Desailly, Nancy Dell’Olio, Lord Newby, Nada Hook from the FA, Brian Oliver, Sports Editor of The Observer, Farayi Mungazi from BBC World Service Africa, and Gibril Faal, Chair of charity, AFFORD.

For further information, including the full list of nominatons please go to score4africa.org.