LAGOS, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- African soccer queen, Cynthia Uwak, has said that the African Footballer of the Year Award, which she won Friday night in Lome, Togo, would ginger her in this month's Beijing 2008 Olympic Games' qualifiers against the Black Queens of Ghana.

    Uwak, who scored Nigeria's equalizer in the 1-1 against Sweden in their opening during the FIFA Women's World Cup in China, last year, was crowned as Africa's best for the second time in the CAF award ceremony, local media reported.

    Uwak, who plays professional football in Sweden was, however, absent from the venue of the award ceremony in Lome because according to her, " I was very busy and could not prepare early for the ceremony. NFA Vice Chairman, Amanze Uchegbulam, picked the award for me." She could not give further details on why she failed to make it to the award ceremony in Lome.

    Uwak said Saturday from the Falcons' camp in Abuja that she was happy winning the award for the second time, adding that it would make her more determined to deal with the Ghanaian's in the return leg of the Olympic Games' qualifiers.

    The match will hold at the Abuja National Stadium in two weeks time. The Falcons had lost the first leg 0-1 in Accra shortly before the two countries represented Africa at the FIFA World Cup in China last September.

    Uwak said, "I will continue to play my part and by the Grace of God, I will win more awards this year. I am praying and hoping that we will qualify for the Olympics, where I hope the Falcons will do well."

    Uwak had finished second behind Perpetua Nkwocha in the race for the highest goals scorers' award in Warri when Nigeria hosted the last edition of the AWC.