Black Stars
Ghana remains unaffected after FIFA performed a shocking U-turn by cancelling their “special ranking” for Africa ahead of Friday’s draw for the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
The Black Stars retained their place in Pot 1 of the draw which means they will avoid the toughest sides in the continent after Friday's draw in Cairo.
The decision to reverse the ranking means both Nigeria and Egypt will now go to Pot 2 despite their protests to be left in Pot 1.
In correspondence to various national federations dated June 22, FIFA stated that the first ranking released earlier this month remains valid and that a FIFA letter dated June 15 which announced a new “special ranking” was now null and void.
Egypt, for one, have argued they ought to be one of the five top seeds and so in Pot 1 ahead of Tunisia.
They appeared to have won this argument going by the “special ranking” which then put them in Pot 1 and dropped Tunisia to Pot 2.
The Pharaohs were hoping the 8 June ranking would be alerted after FIFA said earlier this month they would look into their complaint.
However, they must now settle for a place in Pot 2, meaning they will clash with one of the following top guns: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal or Tunisia.
The draw will be staged in Cairo by 3 pm Ghana time tomorrow.
The seedings now to be used in Friday's draw
Pot 1 - Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia
Pot 2 - Cape Verde, Egypt, DR Congo, Nigeria, Mali.
Pot 3 - Cameroon, Morocco, Guinea, South Africa, Congo.
Pot 4 – Uganda, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Gabon, Zambia.
