African teams will have to be at their very best at the World Cup 2018 if they are to progress beyond the group stage, having been pooled with some of the world’s best teams in the draw conducted on Friday.
FIFA conducted the draw in Moscow, creating eight groups of four teams each.
Egypt went into Group A, and will have to battle host Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay for a place in the quarter final stage.
Morocco was pooled alongside European champions Portugal, Spain and Iran in Group B.
Nigeria went into Group D, and will battle with Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.
The third North African country, Tunisia, was pooled alongside Belgium, Panama and England in Group G.
Senegal went into Group H, and will seek qualification by playing Poland, Colombia and Japan.
The other groups are as follows;
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark.
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia.
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea.
The opening game of the tournament will pit the host, Russia, against Saudi Arabia.
The World Cup will run from 14 June to 15 July 2018.
No African team has ever gone beyond the quarter final stage of the world tournament. The continent’s representatives at the 2018 version will however be aiming to change that.
Analysts are confident the teams are good enough to give a good show in Russia, and have the ability to go beyond the quarter final stage.
