Lamine Sissoko is expected to play a key role for Mali

Nigeria took the 1996 Atlanta Games gold after a thrilling 3-2 win against Argentina and Cameroon triumphed on penalties against Spain at Sydney 2000.

A shock-riddled African qualifying campaign saw both Cameroon and Nigeria eliminated from the Athens tournament.

Only Morocco of the four Sydney challengers survived as also South Africa flopped.

Morocco will be joined at the under-23 tournament that permits three over-age players by 1992 bronze medallists Ghana, Tunisia and debutants Mali.

Mali are drawn in Group A alongside Greece, Mexico and South Korea while Ghana face Italy, Japan and Paraguay in Group B.

Tunisia tackle Argentina, Australia and Serbia and Montenegro in Group C and Morocco meet Costa Rica, Iraq and Portugal in Group D.

Group winners and runners-up qualify for the quarter-finals and Mali and Morocco appear to have the easier tasks while Tunisia confront star-studded Argentina and Ghana face European under-21 champions Italy.

Fitness is set to play a key role with three pool matches in seven days followed by a two or three day break before the quarter-finals while squads from colder climes will be grateful for the early evening kick-offs.

And with the 16 qualifiers restricted to 18 players rather than the 23 allowed at the senior World Cup, coaches will have fewer options when considering rotation.

Mali have chosen only one 'senior', France-based goalkeeper Fousseni Tangara, and lack temperamental playmaker Abdul Traore, who is serving a one-year ban for assaulting a referee in a domestic fixture.

Stephen Appiah plays for Italian giants Juventus

Much will hinge on 19-year-old midfielder Lamine Sissoko, who helped Mali finish fourth at the African Nations Cup in Tunisia and was in the Valencia squad that won the Spanish championship and the Uefa Cup last season.

Ghana have included captain Stephen Appiah and Baffour Gyan from the senior squad. William Tiero is the other over-age player in a squad guided by Mariano Barreto of Portugal, the only foreign coach among the African quartet.

Appiah plays for Italian giants Juventus and his midfield magic will be in demand as the resurgent Black Meteors seek to survive a group where Paraguay will be sharp having used the Olympic squad in the recent Copa America.

After faring disastrously in Australia, losing their three group matches and scoring a solitary goal, Morocco have a favourable draw and a squad boasting Bouabid Bouden, leading scorer with eight goals in the African qualifiers.

"It is very important to achieve a positive result in the first match against Costa Rica. It would be a great boost to our chances of qualification for the knockout stages if we win," said coach Mustapha Madih.

Joint Tunisia coaches Khemaies Abidi and Nabil Maaloul accept they are in the 'Group of Death' with Argentina picking senior stars Robert Ayala, Kily Gonzales and recent Manchester United recruit Gabriel Heinze.