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.
Banned and withrawal teams
The following countries were banned from entering:
Nigeria(for withdrawing from 1996 final tournament)
Gambia(for withdrawing during qualifying stages of 1996 tournament)
Guinea-Bissau(for withdrawing during qualifying stages of 1996 tournament)
Lesotho(for withdrawing during qualifying stages of 1996 tournament)
Madagascar(for withdrawing during qualifying stages of 1996 tournament)
Niger(for withdrawing during qualifying stages of 1996 tournament)
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.
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.
Sierra Leone withdrew two matches before the end of the tournament. However, their results stood.
No qualification took place in 1957 and 1959 as places were given by invitation only. In 1959 and 1976, there was no final; the article is about the decisive match of the final group stage.