The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has excluded the Libyan football national team from playing in the first round of Africa’s qualifying matches for the  2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Libyan national team (Mediterranean Knights) is now ranked 27th best team in Africa as it advanced 23 points ahead on the Football Teams World Ranking of the FIFA, which took place on July 09.

According to the regulation of the world governing body, the 26 lowest-ranked countries from Africa will be engaged in a play-off to decide who will join the second phase of qualifiers.

Libya’s football team is going to play in the second round of the qualifications with two legs on a home and away basis between 5 and 13 October 2015.

The preliminary draw of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 is going to take place next Saturday in Saint Petersburg  Russia.