The South African national under-23 side - Amaglug-glug - were handed a relatively easy draw for the 2004 Athens Olympic qualifiers and will begin the quest with an away match against Ghana in Accra on October 26.

South Africa were drawn in Group D along with Algeria, Ghana and Zambia.

From Accra, Amaglug-glug will then host Algeria in Johannesburg on December 20. After the Christmas break, South Africa will still be at home with a clash against Zambia on January 3 before heading off to Lusaka for the return leg against Chipolopolo on February 21.

On March 13, Conti Kubheka's lads will then host Ghana and will complete the qualifying campaign against Algeria on March 28 in Algiers.

In all fairness South Africa should qualify as they have beaten all three of the countries in their group in the past. Failure to which will result in calls for Kubheka to step down.

But the Amaglug-glug coach expressed confidence on Friday that come March 28 next year, his charges will be among the African countries that will be heading to Athens. "This is a fair draw and I am positive we will qualify," he said.

Meanwhile, Olympic champions Cameroon begin their quest for a place in the soccer tournament at the Athens Games with a difficult assignment away to the Democratic Republic of Congo next month.

In Friday's draw, Cameroon were placed in a tough-looking group B with the Congolese, the Ivory Coast and Mali. Only the group winners progress to the Games next August.

Former Olympic champions Nigeria were handed an even tougher assignment when they were paired in Group A - which should rank as the Group of Death - with Egypt, Senegal and Tunisia.

Nigeria won gold at the 1996 Olympics four years before Cameroon were successful in Sydney where they beat Spain in a penalty shootout in the final.

Morocco are top seeds in group C with Angola, Ethiopia and Uganda while South Africa head group D, along with Algeria, Ghana and Zambia.

The qualifiers start on the weekend of October 24-26 and run through until March next year.