Egypt will not be top-seeded when the 2018 World Cup qualifiers' draw takes place later this month despite repeated assertions from a top football official in the country that the Pharaohs will head one of the five qualifying groups. The seven-time African champions dropped two places in the FIFA ranking, losing their status as one of the top five African teams ahead of the draw. This came despite their 2-0 win over Tanzania in their final African Cup of Nations qualifier last Saturday. Egypt are now seventh among African countries, with Tunisia pipping them to become one of the five top-seeded sides for the draw. FIFA executive committee member Hani Abou-Reida, who is also in the running to become the next Egyptian Football Association chairman, said more than once that Egypt would "definitely" be one of the top-seeded teams in the draw. Social media was rife with comments criticising Abou-Reida, with many Egyptians fearing their side might not be able to end a long World Cup drought. Egypt have not reached football's most prestigious showpiece since making the last of their two participations in 1990. The 20 African countries who qualified for the final qualifying phase will be drawn into five groups (with four teams in each group), with the group winners securing a place at the 2018 Russia finals. The draw of the World Cup African qualifiers will be held in Cairo on 24 June. Pot 1: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia Pot 2: Cap Verde, Egypt, DR Congo, Nigeria and Mali Pot 3: Cameroon, Morocco, Gunea, South Africa and Congo Pot 4: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Gabon, Libya http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/222591.aspx
