NEW FIFA African ranking Explained | World Cup 2018 draw
(FIFA) is set to establish another special African ranking ahead of the World Cup draw set for 24 June after receiving complaints, according to a letter sent from FIFA to the member associations.
“Following some complaints received with regards to the fluctuation of the FIFA rankings in the month of June, and with the aim of transparency, it was decided to proceed with establishing a special FIFA ranking… on 21 June 2016,” read the letter signed by FIFA Deputy Secretary-General Marco Villiger.
A special ranking will therefore be established on 21 June 2016 in order to distribute the qualified teams into the different pots accordingly.
FIFA issued on 8 June a special African ranking that sparked controversy, especially in Egypt.
Coming seventh in Africa, the Pharaohs were not among the five-top teams that will be in pot 1 in the World Cup draw.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) filed a complaint to the world governing body to review their calculations.
“Egypt’s position in May, June and even July in the next ranking should be the fifth [continentally]… why was Egypt ranked seventh?” asked the EFA in their complaint, which was published on Thursday on their official website.
The 20 African countries that made it to 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.
Egypt have not reached football’s world’s most prestigious showpiece since making the last of their two appearances in 1990.
The seeding of the African teams according to the 8 June ranking
Pot 1: 1-Algeria, 2-Ivory Coast, 3-Ghana, 4-Senegal and 5-Tunisia
Pot 2: 6-Cap Verde, 7-Egypt, 8-DR Congo, 9-Nigeria and 10-Mali
Pot 3: 11-Cameroon, 12-Morocco, 13-Guinea, 14-South Africa and 15-Congo
Pot 4: 16-Uganda, 17-Burkina Faso, 18-Zambia, 19-Gabon, 20-Libya
