Ghana coach Avram Grant is optimistic the Black Stars will sail through in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana would play Comoros or Lesotho in the second round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup following Saturday’s draw in St Petersburg, Russia.

Fifty-three African countries were in the draw, with only Zimbabwe missing following their expulsion by Fifa for failing to pay a former coach.

Africa has been allocated five spots in the finals, which will be played in Russia from 14 June to 15 July.

There will be three rounds of qualifying for the African sides.

Reacting to the draw from St. Petersburg, Grant said: “I think the system for Africa is a little bit new for me so we know only the first game and then we know we will go to the group stages.

“In any case, I think in Africa, all the group stages will be very difficult because it contains a lot of good teams and only less than 10 percent will qualify. If you compare to South America, 50 percent of the teams will qualify; in Europe, I think over 30 percent.

“It will be difficult but we have a good team.”