Black Stats coach Avram Grant has hailed his team despite Sunday's 2-0 loss to Egypt in the second Group E game of the World Cup qualifiers, insisting that his side's chances are still alive.

Two goals from Mohamed Salah and Abdallah El-Said gave Egypt a precious home win over Ghana at Alexandria's 86,000-seat Borg El-Arab Stadium; helping the Pharaohs make a significant stride in their bid to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1990.

"I'm proud and happy of my players performance. We dominated the game until the penalty," Grant told the post-match news conference.

"Egypt and Uganda are leading the group but we still have 12 points to acquire in the qualifiers.

"Anything is possible in football. We will compete firstly at the coming Africa Cup of Nations and then we will fight in the coming period to get the remaining points and reach the World Cup.

"Fan existence wasn't a source of worry for us and the atmosphere was great. We had the possession but finally football is a game of result," the former Chelsea boss concluded.

Egypt lead the group with six points, two clear of Uganda who defeated pointless Congo 1-0 on Saturday.

Ghana are third on a solitary point as their hopes of making a fourth successive World Cup appearance are hanging by a thread.

Ghana next face Congo in two home and away matches next year.