This page details the process of the 1998 African Cup of Nations Qualification phase. Burkina Faso, as hosts, and South Africa, as title holders, qualified automatically.
Contents
Note
The following countries were banned from entering:
Some other teams did not enter, including:
Group 1
Note: Sudan withdrew on 16 January 1997, due to unrest in the east of the country. They had already competed one match (0–3 lost to Zimbabwe at home), but this result was later annulled.
Group 4
Note: Central African Republic disqualified on 30 January 1997, after the government prevented the squad leaving for the game in Sierra Leone on 25 January. Their results were annulled.
Note: Sierra Leone withdrew two matches before the end of the tournament. However, their results stood.
Group 6
Note: During the tournament, the country of Zaire was renamed DR Congo.