BABY Bafana may have been drawn in the "Group of Death" but deputy captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele is adamant they will qualify for the 2012 London Olympics especially with the tried and tested players on board.

Mphahlele's comments come after Premier Soccer League CEO Zola Majavu threw his weight behind Baby Bafana promising to ensure selected players for the African Under-23 Championships in Cairo, Egypt, in November are released by their clubs.

The Confederation of African Football is using the championships to determine the three countries to represent Africa at the Olympics.

Africa has a chance of increasing its participation if the team finishing fourth in Cairo beats Asian winners.

The draw for the championships was conducted in Cairo on Saturday in the presence of local soccer bosses Molefi Oliphant, Irvin Khoza and Danny Jordaan.

The Baby Bafana were drawn in Group A with Egypt, Gabon and Ivory Coast while Group B consists of Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria and Senegal.

"It's a tough one for all the teams in our group, which makes it very exciting. We are in a group of the power houses of African football," said Mphahlele.

"With all the selected players given permission by their clubs to go to Egypt, there is no way we won't qualify for the Olympics.

"Coach Shakes Mashaba has done a great work to create a bigger pool of players. We will make South Africans proud.

"We do not only want to make an appearance at the Olympics, but we want to win something at the end of the tournament. Nothing is impossible with hard work."

Mashaba could not be reached for comment but team manager Levy Ramajoe said: "We have already started with preparations for the tournament in Egypt."

Some of the top players who qualify to play for Baby Bafana include Thulali Serero, Andile Jali, Bongani Ndulula, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Darren Keet and Lebogang Manyama.