South Africa boasts a squad that is balanced and has quality players in defence and attack, which can reach the 2016 Olympics, said SA under-23 winger Keagan Dolly.

Owen da Gama's under-23 side departed this week for the eight-nation CAF Under-23 championships in Senegal, where they open the tournament against the hosts on Saturday.

The top three finishers qualify for next year's Olympic Games in Rio.

Dolly believes the South Africans have an attack that can break down defences, and a defence that can hold its own against Africa's best.

Dolly said the addition of Bidvest Wits' new prodigy striker, Phakamani Mahlambi, the 18-year-old who has scored three goals in three games for the Students, brings an added dimension to the SA attack.

"And we have Riyaad Norodien as well, who's also got pace. I get excited when I see these players joining the camp, so jah, I'm excited for the tournament," Mamelodi Sundowns' in-form winger said.

"Mahlambi is a great player, hey. Very quick. He was at the School of Excellence with me, so I know him well from there. We've got Siphelele Ntshangase who can hold the ball up for us. Him and I have a good understanding. I think we started clicking in the first camp against Egypt."

Dolly said Da Gama has assembled a good enough squad to match Africa's best under-23s. Also in SA's group are Zambia and Tunisia. Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria and Mali make up Group B.

Rivaldo Coetzee, Dolly and Ntshangase - all of whom have had Bafana call-ups in the past year-and-a-half - will be key for the U-23 squad. The three, along with Mahlambi, could have the best claim to overseas contracts should this team emulate the only other U-23 generation to reach the Olympics at Sydney 2000.