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.
The following countries were banned from entering for withdrawing during the qualifying stages: These teams did not enter: 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.
Due to the civil war, Sierra Leone withdrew two matches before the end of the tournament, but their results stood.