Senegal host an eight-nation Olympics football qualifying tournament during the next 15 days with the top three finishers securing places at the 2016 Rio Games.

South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia are in Group A with the Senegalese and Group B comprises Algeria, Egypt, Mali and 1996 gold medallists Nigeria.

Owen Da Gama of South Africa could have been speaking for all eight coaches when he spoke about the opening game against Senegal at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar.

"This match will define our destiny. Our aim is to start well because an opening-round loss will place us under pressure in the remaining two group games," he said.

Group matches are scheduled for the 60,000-seat national stadium in Dakar and the 5,000-capacity Stade Caroline Faye in M'Bour, 70 kilometres (44 miles) south of the capital city.

Dakar stages both semi-finals, the third place play-off to decide the last qualifier for Rio, and the final of a competition which doubles as the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

AFP Sport looks, in alphabetical order, at the eight contenders, all of whom have qualified at least once for the Olympics.