1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)

Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the African zone (CAF). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification.

1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
Tournament details
Dates31 May 1996 – 17 August 1997
Teams36 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played91
Goals scored229 (2.52 per match)
Attendance2,810,227 (30,882 per match)
Top scorer(s)Angola Paulão
Burkina Faso Mamadou Zongo
Kenya Mike Okoth Origi
Zimbabwe Vitalis Takawira (5 goals)
1994
2002
Result:
  Countries that qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
  Countries that did not qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
  Countries that did not enter, withdrew or were disqualified

A total of 38 CAF teams entered the competition. However, Mali and Niger both withdrew before the draw was made. The African Zone was allocated five places (out of 32) in the final tournament.

Summary

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There would be two rounds of play:

  • First Round: Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt, the four highest-ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the Final Round directly. The remaining 32 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners would advance to the Final Round.
  • Final Round: The 20 teams were divided into five groups of four teams each. The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify. These were:

First round

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Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Mauritania   0–2   Burkina Faso 0–0 0–2
Namibia   3–1   Mozambique 2–0 1–1
Malawi   0–4   South Africa 0–1 0–3
Uganda   1–5   Angola 0–2 1–3
Guinea-Bissau   4–5   Guinea 3–2 1–3
Gambia   2–5   Liberia 2–1 0–4
Swaziland   0–3   Gabon 0–1 0–2
Burundi   2–0   Sierra Leone 1–0 1–0
Madagascar   3–4   Zimbabwe 1–2 2–2
Congo   3–1   Ivory Coast 2–0 1–1
Mauritius   1–7   Zaire 1–5 0–2
Rwanda   1–5   Tunisia 1–3 0–2
Kenya   3–2   Algeria 3–1 0–1
Togo   3–2   Senegal 2–1 1–1
Sudan   2–3   Zambia 2–0 0–3
Tanzania   1–2   Ghana 0–0 1–2

First leg

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Mauritania  0–0  Burkina Faso
Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Alhagi Ibrahima Faye (Togo)

Namibia  2–0  Mozambique
Hoeseb   28'
Ortmann   80'
Report
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Antonio Augusto Silva (Angola)

Malawi  0–1  South Africa
Report Tinkler   21'
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

Uganda  0–2  Angola
Report Da Silva   35' (pen.)
Paulão   60' (pen.)
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Isaack Omar Abdulkadir (Tanzania)

Guinea-Bissau  3–2  Guinea
Tavares   11', 36'
Co   60' (pen.)
Report Camara   53', 54'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Falla N'Doye (Senegal)

Gambia  2–1  Liberia
Corr   18' (pen.)
Sillah   58'
Report Debbah   35' (pen.)
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Mamadouba Camara (Guinea)

Swaziland  0–1  Gabon
Report Ogandaga   5'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Feliz Onias Tangawarima (Mozambique)

Burundi  1–0  Sierra Leone
Wambo   85' Report
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Ahmed Salih Salah (Sudan)

Madagascar  1–2  Zimbabwe
Raoelijaona   85' Report Sawu   79'
Takawira   89'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

Congo  2–0  Ivory Coast
Niere   42'
Miyamou   89'
Report
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Aka Amuam (Cameroon)

Mauritius  1–5  Zaire
Mocude   64' Report Emeka   1'
Ngonge   15'
Tondelva   60'
Elonga-Ekakia   77', 82'
Attendance: 2,448
Referee: Eric Hubert (Reunion)

Rwanda  1–3  Tunisia
Mupenzi   48' Report Sellimi   43' (pen.), 47'
Ben Slimane   60'
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Bisingu-Wabelo Buenkadila (Zaire)

Kenya  3–1  Algeria
Kwarula   58'
Motego   63' (pen.)
Otieno   87'
Report Zerrouki   78'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Kine Tebebu (Ethiopia)

Togo  2–1  Senegal
Oyawolé   31'
Noutsoudje   88'
Report Traoré   80'
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Emmanuel Okoampah (Ghana)

Sudan  2–0  Zambia
Khalid Ahmed Elmustafa   12'
Anas Elnour   52'
Report
Attendance: 11,983
Referee: Martin Omondi Bita (Kenya)

Tanzania  0–0  Ghana
Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Charles Baku Ndukize (Burundi)

Second leg

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Burkina Faso  2–0  Mauritania
Ouédraogo   44'
Traore   81'
Report
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Sylvain Abikanlou (Benin)

Burkina Faso won 2–0 on aggregate


Mozambique  1–1  Namibia
Macamo   25' Report Khob   84'
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Milson Bahirah Jaky (Madagascar)

Namibia won 3–1 on aggregate


South Africa  3–0  Malawi
Bartlett   4', 42'
Fish   38'
Report
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Edwin Mmonwagotlhe Senai (Botswana)

South Africa won 4–0 on aggregate


Angola  3–1  Uganda
Paulão   1', 58'
Paulo Silva   7'
Report Robert Kizito   3'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Goshen Hatimbula (Zambia)

Angola won 5–1 on aggregate


Guinea  3–1  Guinea-Bissau
Soumah   33', 59'
Bangoura   61'
Report Co   47'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Moussa Kanoute (Mali)

Guinea won 5–4 on aggregate


Liberia  4–0  Gambia
Clarke   25'
Weah   79'
Makor   87'
Debbah   90'
Report
Attendance: 7,609
Referee: Samuel Kamara (Sierra Leone)

Liberia won 5–2 on aggregate


Gabon  2–0  Swaziland
Mackaya   28'
Ngoukou   56'
Report
Attendance: 11,625
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Gabon won 3–0 on aggregate


Sierra Leone  0–1  Burundi
Report Mbuyi   30'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Olufemi Orimison Olaniyan (Nigeria)

Burundi won 2–0 on aggregate but withdrew before the Final Round started, so their place was given to Sierra Leone.


Zimbabwe  2–2  Madagascar
Zviripayi   52'
Takawira   69'
Report R. Rasoanaivo   23'
H. Rasoanaivo   67'
Attendance: 36,885
Referee: Ian McLeod (South Africa)

Zimbabwe won 4–3 on aggregate


Ivory Coast  1–1  Congo
Dao   29' Report Imboula   85'
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)

Congo won 3–1 on aggregate


Zaire  2–0  Mauritius
Ngonge   45'
Tondelva   90'
Report
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Jean-Fidèle Diramba (Gabon)

Zaire won 7–1 on aggregate


Tunisia  2–0  Rwanda
Berkhissa   17'
Sellimi   46' (pen.)
Report
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Mohamed Kouradji (Algeria)

Tunisia won 5–1 on aggregate


Algeria  1–0  Kenya
Tasfaout   81' Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Sahli Ferid (Tunisia)

Kenya won 3–2 on aggregate


Senegal  1–1  Togo
Diallo   30' Report Gnavor   85'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Lassana Gassama (Mauritania)

Togo won 3–2 on aggregate


Zambia  3–0  Sudan
Lota   13'
Mutale   35'
Tembo   76'
Report
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Wallace Mabuza (Swaziland)

Zambia won 3–2 on aggregate


Ghana  2–1  Tanzania
Johnson   70'
Augustine   81'
Report Daima   71'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)

Ghana won 2–1 on aggregate

Final round

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Key:

  • Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals.

Group 1

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Nigeria 6 4 1 1 10 4 6 13
  Guinea 6 4 0 2 10 5 5 12
  Kenya 6 3 1 2 11 12 −1 10
  Burkina Faso 6 0 0 6 7 17 −10 0
Nigeria  2–0  Burkina Faso
Amokachi   46', 77' Report
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Guinea  3–1  Kenya
T. Camara   17'
F. Camara   34'
Soumah   82'
Report Okoth   12'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Mohamed Kouradji (Algeria)

Kenya  1–1  Nigeria
Simiyu   22' Report Akpoborie   48'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Abdul Rahman Al-Zaid (Saudi Arabia)

Burkina Faso  0–2  Guinea
Report Oularé   17'
Soumah   44'
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: Zeli Sinko (Ivory Coast)

Nigeria  2–1  Guinea
Amokachi   66', 67' Report T. Camara   87'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Said Belqola (Morocco)

Kenya  4–3  Burkina Faso
Okoth   55', 75', 85', 87' Report Zongo   12', 70'
F. Sanou   42' (pen.)
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Sahli Ferid (Tunisia)

Burkina Faso  1–2  Nigeria
Zongo   76' Report Adepoju   42'
Amunike   58'
Attendance: 12,224
Referee: Sahli Ferid (Tunisia)

Kenya  1–0  Guinea
Otieno   3' Report
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

Nigeria  3–0  Kenya
Oliseh   13'
Amunike   43'
Oruma   83'
Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

Guinea  3–1  Burkina Faso
F. Camara   9' (pen.)
Balma   27' (o.g.)
Oulare   54'
Report Zongo   8'
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Burkina Faso  2–4  Kenya
Zongo   16'
O. Sanou   80'
Report Simiyu   8'
Were   44'
Sunguti   70', 75'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Guinea  1–0  Nigeria
F. Camara   50' Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Alex Quartey (Ghana)

Group 2

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Tunisia 6 5 1 0 10 1 9 16
  Egypt 6 3 1 2 15 5 10 10
  Liberia 6 1 1 4 2 10 −8 4
  Namibia 6 1 1 4 6 17 −11 4
Egypt  7–1  Namibia
Maher   1', 15', 69'
A. Hassan   11'
I. Hassan   34'
H. Hassan   72', 83'
Report Shivute   24'
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Sidi Magassa (Mali)

Liberia  0–1  Tunisia
Report Jelassi   87'
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Jean-Fidèle Diramba (Gabon)

Namibia  0–0  Liberia
Report[permanent dead link]
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Petros Mathabela (South Africa)

Tunisia  1–0  Egypt
Baya   10' Report
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Masayoshi Okada (Japan)

Liberia  1–0  Egypt
Weah   29' Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Zeli Sinko (Ivory Coast)

Namibia  1–2  Tunisia
Ouseb   74' Report Herichi   15'
Badra   68'
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Milson Jaky (Madagascar)

Namibia  2–3  Egypt
Uutoni   62'
Ouseb   87' (pen.)
Report H. Hassan   77', 89'
Khashaba   79' (pen.)
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Amuam Aka (Cameroon)

Tunisia  2–0  Liberia
Sellimi   66'
Badra   75'
Report
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Mamadouba Camara (Guinea)

Liberia  1–2  Namibia
Daye   5' Report Shivute   35'
Uri Khob   82'
Attendance: 11,960
Referee: Jean-Fidèle Diramba (Gabon)

Egypt  0–0  Tunisia
Report
Attendance: 46,000
Referee: Karim Daho (Algeria)

Egypt  5–0  Liberia
Khashaba   21' (pen.)
Hanafy   24'
Sabry   46'
Kamouna   68'
Emam   77'
Report
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Kine Tibebu (Ethiopia)

Tunisia  4–0  Namibia
Baya   19', 57'
Souayah   31'
Limam   70'
Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Salah Ahmed Mohamed Salih (Sudan)

Group 3

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  South Africa 6 4 1 1 7 3 4 13
  Congo 6 3 1 2 5 5 0 10
  Zambia 6 2 2 2 7 6 1 8
  DR Congo 6 0 2 4 4 9 −5 2

In May 1997, Zaire were renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo DR).

South Africa  1–0  Zaire
Masinga   67' Report
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Said Belqola (Morocco)

Congo  1–0  Zambia
Niere   86' Report
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

Zambia  0–0  South Africa
Report
Attendance: 75,000
Referee: Tajaddin Fares (Syria)

Zaire  1–1  Congo
Lembi   13' Report Bongo   4'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)

Congo  2–0  South Africa
Younga-Mouhani   60', 64' Report
Attendance: 38,000
Referee: Sidi Magassa (Mali)

Zaire  2–2  Zambia
N'tsunda   29'
Bazamba   51'
Report Malitoli   22'
Tembo   81'
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

Zaire  1–2  South Africa
Tumba   26' Report Khumalo   21'
Masinga   66'
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Emmanuel Obafemi (Nigeria)

Zambia  3–0  Congo
Lota   40'
Miti   85'
Bwalya   85'
Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Sidi Magassa (Mali)

Congo  1–0  DR Congo
Younga-Mouhani   60' Report
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Mamadouba Camara (Guinea)

South Africa  3–0  Zambia
Mkhalele   8'
Masinga   17'
Williams   54'
Report
Attendance: 73,000
Referee: Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)

South Africa  1–0  Congo
Masinga   14' Report
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

Zambia  2–0  DR Congo
Kamwandi   32', 56' Report
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Edwin Senai (Botswana)

Group 4

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Cameroon 6 4 2 0 10 4 6 14
  Angola 6 2 4 0 7 4 3 10
  Zimbabwe 6 1 1 4 6 7 −1 4
  Togo 6 1 1 4 6 14 −8 4
Angola  2–1  Zimbabwe
Akwá   43'
Paulão   51'
Report Ndlovu   60'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)

Togo  2–4  Cameroon
Noutsoudje   50'
Salou   83' (pen.)
Report Tchami   10', 24', 55'
Missé-Missé   63'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

Cameroon  0–0  Angola
Report
Attendance: 75,000
Referee: Said Belqola (Morocco)

Zimbabwe  3–0  Togo
Chihuri   16'
Takawira   21' (pen.), 49'
Report
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Angola  3–1  Togo
Paulão   29'
Akwá   45'
Sousa   51'
Report
Oyawolé   21'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Emmanuel Okoampah (Ghana)

Cameroon  1–0  Zimbabwe
Tchoutang   80' Report
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Jean-Fidèle Diramba (Gabon)

Cameroon  2–0  Togo
Tchoutang   87'
Mboma   90'
Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Lucian Bouchardeau (Niger)

Zimbabwe  0–0  Angola
Report
Attendance: 47,257
Referee: Ian McLeod (South Africa)

Angola  1–1  Cameroon
Akwá   55' Report Mboma   47'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

Togo  2–1  Zimbabwe
Salou   8', 21' Report Takawira   65' (pen.)
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Zeli Sinko (Ivory Coast)

Togo  1–1  Angola
Ouadja   47' Report Quinzinho   43'
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Sidi Magassa (Mali)

Zimbabwe  1–2  Cameroon
Dinha   82' Report Mboma   50', 54'
Attendance: 12,736
Referee: Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)

Group 5

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Gabon vs Sierra Leone was not played, since neither team could advance with a win.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Morocco 6 5 1 0 14 2 12 16
  Sierra Leone 5 2 1 2 4 6 −2 7
  Ghana 6 1 3 2 7 7 0 6
  Gabon 5 0 1 4 1 11 −10 1
Morocco  4–0  Sierra Leone
Hababi   16'
Raghib   50', 55'
Fertout   57'
Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Olufemi Olaniyan (Nigeria)

Gabon  1–1  Ghana
Nguema   65' Report Pele   66'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Ian McLeod (South Africa)

Sierra Leone  1–0  Gabon
Kanu   46' Report
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Olufemi Olaniyan (Nigeria)

Ghana  2–2  Morocco
Johnson   77'
Moses   89'
Report Bassir   30'
Hadji   70'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Ali Mohamed Bujsaim (UAE)

Sierra Leone  1–1  Ghana
Conteh   87' Report A. Kamara   23' (o.g.)
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)

Gabon  0–4  Morocco
Report Bahja   2', 5'
Bassir   44', 45'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Charles Masembe (Gabon)

Match abandoned after 53 minutes due to crowd trouble. FIFA allowed the result to stand


Sierra Leone  0–1  Morocco
Report Bassir   40'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Falla N'Doye (Senegal)

Ghana  3–0  Gabon
Aboagye   42'
Gargo   60', 64' (pen.)
Report
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Ahmed Shinnawi (Egypt)

Morocco  1–0  Ghana
Raghib   67' Report
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Sidi Magassa (Mali)

Gabon  P–P  Sierra Leone
Report

Match postponed due to Sierra Leone not being able to travel from Freetown due to conflict. The match was never rearranged due to the result having no effect on final group standings


Morocco  2–0  Gabon
Naybet   24'
Bahja   45(+2)' (pen.)
Report
Attendance: 125,000
Referee: Hussein Moussa (Egypt)

Ghana  0–2  Sierra Leone
Report Amidu   14'
Kallon   47'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Lazare Essimi Mbengue (Cameroon)

Qualified teams

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The following five teams from CAF qualified for the final tournament.

Team Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA World Cup1
  Nigeria Final Round Group 1 winners 7 June 1997 1 (1994)
  Tunisia Final Round Group 2 winners 8 June 1997 1 (1978)
  South Africa Final Round Group 3 winners 16 August 1997 0 (debut)
  Cameroon Final Round Group 4 winners 17 August 1997 3 (1982, 1990, 1994)
  Morocco Final Round Group 5 winners 8 June 1997 3 (1970, 1986, 1994)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Goalscorers

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There were 229 goals scored in 91 matches, for an average of 2.52 goals per match.

5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal
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