Egypt faces Ghana hurdle in bid to end 20-year WC drought

In the other matchups: Ethiopia will face African champion Nigeria as it attempts to reach the World Cup for the first time; Tunisia will play Cameroon after the North Africans were re-instated to the final playoffs in place of Cape Verde,which was thrown out by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player in a crucial win over the Tunisians; and African Cup finalist Burkina Faso,also hoping to play at football8217;s main event for the first time,was drawn against Algeria.

The first-leg games will be played between October 11-15 and the second legs a month later. The playoffs will decide Africa8217;s five representatives at the World Cup and end the two-year qualifying competition,which started with 52 hopefuls.

Egypt,a record seven-time African champion,last went to the World Cup in 1990. But despite the constant distraction of violent unrest at home,former United States coach Bob Bradley led the Egyptians to the 10-team playoffs with a perfect run in group qualifying,winning six out of six games.

Ghana was the best-performing African team at the last World Cup in South Africa,when it beat the Bradley-led United States in the second round,and will be at home in the first leg.

Ivory Coast was pitted against Senegal about a year after a violent riot at a stadium in Dakar when the teams met in African Cup qualifying. Ivory Coast is Africa8217;s No. 1 team and the World Cup would likely be the final international tournament for captain and veteran striker Didier Drogba.

Senegal reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002,one of only three African countries to achieve that feat,but hasn8217;t appeared on the biggest stage since then. The Ivorians will be at home first.

Underperformers

Ethiopia emerged from a long spell of underperforming to play at the African Cup of Nations this year,but faces a tough draw against continental champion Nigeria,which won the Cup of Nations in South Africa in February. Ethiopia will host the first leg.

Tunisia was given a second chance at the World Cup after Cape Verde forfeited its victory in the final round of group games for playing Fernando Varela when he should have been suspended.

Tunisia will host Cameroon first,which scraped through qualifying over Libya and will be without all-time leading scorer Samuel Eto8217;o for the playoffs after the Chelsea striker retired from the national team.

Burkina Faso surprisingly reached the final of the African Cup this year and continued that momentum into World Cup qualifying. Algeria will travel to Burkina Faso next month for the opening match.