World Cup 2018: Ghana avoid Africa's highest rated sides in today's draw

Ghana will avoid the toughest sides in Africa in the 2018 World Cup group phase qualifiers as the Black Stars are seeded in today's draw in Cairo.

That is thanks to the Black Stars excellent ranking by FIFA as Ghana are among Africa's top rated sides.

Ghana's position as the third best side in Africa by FIFA in its monthly ranking will give the Black Stars the chance to avoid the four other best sides in Africa.

This means Ghana will avoid Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Senegal who are among the top five sides in Africa along with the Black Stars.

The Black Stars are among the 20 sides in Africa to have sealed their places in the group phase of the qualifiers after the qualifiers in November last year.

The 20 counties will be divided into five groups of four with the group winners qualifying for the 2018 tournament finals in Russia.

Despite avoiding some of the big guns, other tough customers like Nigeria, Cameroon, Zambia, Egypt and Burkina Faso could be drawn to face the Black Stars which could prove challenging.

Five places have been reserved for Africa at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The seeds for 2018 World Cup qualifying draw for Africa

Pot 1: Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia

Pot 2: Cape Verde, Congo DR, Egypt, Mali and Nigeria.

Pot 3: Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Morocco and South Africa.

Pot 4: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Libya, Uganda and Zambia

The draw will be held at 3pm Ghana time and Ghanasoccernet.com will start its live coverage of the event at 2pm or 1400GMT today.