Egypt, who are aiming to end a decades-old World Cup absence, will face either Chad or Sierra in a two-legged knockout clash in their opening qualifier for the 2018 finals in Russia following the draw made in St Petersburg on Saturday.

Due to Egypt's FIFA ranking, they were given a bye into the second round where they will be paired with the winners of a first-round game between Chad and Sierra Leone.

Should Egypt overcome their second-round opponent, they will be drawn into a four-team group whose leader will directly reach the 2018 Russia finals. 

The Pharaohs missed out on a place in the last edition in 2014 in Brazil after suffering a humiliating 7-3 aggregate defeat by Ghana in a playoff.

Egypt faced modest Sierra Leone only twice, with both games coming in the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The seven-time African champions were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Sierra Leone in September 2010 before slumping to a 2-1 loss on the road almost one year later.

Egypt prevailed in two of three meetings against Chad, crushing them 5-1 in the Nations Cup qualifiers in 1991 and 4-0 in a friendly in 2012. Their first meeting, which came in 1990, ended in a goalless draw in a Nations Cup qualifier.

The ailing side, who have not qualified for the Nations Cup since 2010, are in a rebuilding phase under veteran Argentinean coach Hector Cuper, who is primarily tasked with helping them reach the World Cup for the first time since 1990.

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