Ghana and six other countries have been given byes into the second round of qualifiers for the 2008 Olympic football tournament.

Ghana's Black Meteors were the first African side to win a medal in Olympic football.

The Black Meteors picked up a bronze medal during the 1992 games hosted by Spain.

Two former Olympic football champions, Nigeria and Cameroon have also been given byes into the second round of qualifiers.

Both countries, winners of the 1996 and 2000 tournaments, are among the seven countries that will not play in the first round.

Angola, Mali, Morocco and Tunisia have also been given passage to the second round.

The opening leg of the first round of qualifiers, which has 34 countries, will be played between 1-3 September.