2018 World Cup campaign: Ghana to face Comoros/Lesotho

The Black Stars will face the winner of the match between Comoros and Lesotho following the outcome of the 2018 FIFA World Cup preliminary draw held in St.Petersburg, Russia on Saturday.

Ghana will begin the 2018 World Cup campaign in November after being drawn bye from the first round of the African qualifiers.

The 26 lowest-ranked African sides in FIFA rankings which includes Comoros and Lesotho will play each other in two-legged ties after which the 13 winners and 27 other countries will compete in two-leg ties with the winners progressing to a group stage of the Africa qualifiers.

Drawn bye from the first round of the African qualifiers, Nigeria will also begin her campaign for a place at the 2018 finals in Russia in November 2015, away to the winner of the Djibouti vs Swaziland first round playoff.

The 20 winners from the second round knockout matches will be drawn in five groups of four (to be made at the end of the 2nd round).

The group winners will qualify for the 2018 World Cup which will be staged in Russia.

Below is the African Zone qualifying draw for 2018 World Cup made in St Petersburg last Saturday (five African sides will qualify for the final in Russia):

1st round (October 2015)

Somalia v Niger

South Sudan v Mauritania

Gambia v Namibia

Sao Tome and Principe v Ethiopia

Chad v Sierra Leone

Comoros v Lesotho

Djibouti v Swaziland

Eritrea v Botswana

Seychelles v Burundi

Liberia v Guinea Bissau

Central African Republic v Madagascar

Mauritius v Kenya

Tanzania v Malawi

2nd round (November 2015)

Somalia or Niger v Cameroon

South Sudan or Mauritania v Tunisia

Gambia or Namibia v Guinea

Sao Tome and Principe or Ethiopia v Congo

Chad or Sierra Leone v Egypt

Comoros or Lesotho v Ghana

Djibouti or Swaziland v Nigeria

Eritrea or Botswana v Mali

Seychelles or Burundi v Democratic Republic of Congo

Liberia or Guinea Bissau v Cote d’Ivoire

Central Africa Republic or Madagascar v Senegal

Mauritius or Kenya v Cape Verde

Tanzania or Malawi v Algeria

Sudan v Zambia

Libya v Rwanda

Morocco v Equatorial Guinea

Mozambique v Gabon

Benin v Burkina Faso

Togo v Uganda

Angola v South Africa