1978 African Cup of Nations qualification

Qualifying tournament

Preliminary round

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Imbert L'Enflé ? Mauritius won 4–3 on aggregate.

First round

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Betrouni Tlemçani Ochieng Algeria won 5–3 on aggregate.

Nigeria won 3–1 on aggregate.

? Ethiopia won 4–2 on aggregate.

Guinea won 5–0 on aggregate.

Senegal won 3–1 on aggregate.

Khalil Akid Lahzami Dhiab Shehata *Tunisia won 5–4 on aggregate. *

Milla Bahamboula Mounoundzi Congo won 4–2 on aggregate.

Ivory Coast won 5–1 on aggregate, but later were disqualified.

Mali had a walkover to the next round, but later were disqualified.

Uganda had a walkover to the next round.

Zambia had a walkover to the next round.

Second round

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• Ivory Coast and Mali were both disqualified: Upper Volta, who lost to Ivory Coast in the first round, were given a place in the finals.*

Ighili Zambia won 6–5 in penalty shootout after 2–2 on aggregate.

Odegbami ? Nigeria won 4–3 on aggregate.

Kirunda Uganda won 2–1 on aggregate.

Both teams were disqualified: Ivory Coast for using an ineligible player in the second leg, and Mali after stadium security and police assaulted the match officials during the first leg. Upper Volta, who lost to Ivory Coast in the first round, were given a place in the finals.

Lakou Bourdette Dimonékéné Nganga-Mwivi Congo won 6–5 on aggregate.

Dhiab ? Dhiab Tunisia won 5–3 on aggregate.

Qualified teams

The 8 qualified teams are:

• (hosts)
• (holders)