Niger national football team
![]() | |||
Nickname(s) | Ménas | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Nigerien Football Federation | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
Head coach | Jean-Michel Cavalli | ||
Captain | Kassaly Daouda | ||
Most caps | Kassaly Daouda (89) | ||
Top scorer | Victorien Adebayor (19) | ||
Home stadium | Stade Seyni Kountché | ||
FIFA code | NIG | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 122 ![]() | ||
Highest | 68 (November 1994) | ||
Lowest | 196 (August 2002) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 25 December 1961) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Niamey, Niger; 12 October 1990) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 27 December 1961) | |||
Africa Cup of Nations | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2012) | ||
Best result | Group stage (2012, 2013) |
The Niger national football team[3][4] represents Niger in international football through the Nigerien Football Federation, a member of Confederation of African Football (CAF). Niger plays in the colors of the flag of Niger, white, green and orange. Their nickname comes from the Dama gazelle, native to Niger, the Hausa name of which is Meyna or Ménas[5] The Dama appears on their badge in the colors of the national flag. [6][7]
History[edit]
Although one of the less successful sides in the strong West Africa region, Niger has produced a couple of noteworthy runs in qualifying tournaments.
One of their best performances was in the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in which Niger eliminated Somalia and Togo on the away goals rule, but were beaten by Algeria in the third round where only eight teams were left. Notable players in this run included Jacques Komlan, Hassane Adamou and Moussa Kanfideni.
In 1990, they set a record by thrashing Mauritania 7–1 in continental qualifiers, the highest positive score margin for the Mena.
In the 2004 African Nations Cup qualifiers, Niger won all their home games (including a win over Guinea) to finish on nine points, just three short of qualification.
The Niger squad is also plagued by financial concerns, which have caused them to withdraw from international tournaments on more than one occasion. The Nigerien Football Federation would have turned to fundraising to pay for their trip to the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, had they qualified.[8]
On 10 October 2010, Niger earned a shock 1–0 win over Egypt at home in the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualification.
Despite a failed run for AFCON 2010, Niger hosted and won the UEMOA Tournament in November 2010, and followed up with their first ever qualification for the African Nations Championship in February 2011.[9]
After home wins over South Africa and Sierra Leone, on 8 October 2011 Niger qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in its history, despite losing 3–0 in Egypt.[10][11] Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone all ended with nine points, but Niger qualified thanks to their superior head-to-head record against their rivals.
At the 2012 African Cup of Nations, Niger was placed in Group C alongside co-hosts Gabon, Tunisia and Morocco. In their opening match, Niger lost 2–0 to Gabon, while against Tunisia in Libreville, Niger trailed 1–0 on an early goal from Youssef Msakni in which he dribbled his way through for a fine goal after just four minutes. William N'Gounou, however, then made history by scoring Niger's first ever goal at the African Cup of Nations. A 1–1 draw looked likely, but Issam Jemâa's goal would eliminate Niger from the tournament. In the final match, Niger faced Morocco in a match featuring two sides already eliminated from the tournament. Younès Belhanda scored on an assist from Marouane Chamakh just 11 minutes from time to give Morocco a 1–0 victory.[12]
Later in 2012, Niger repeated its success in African Nations Cup qualifiers by beating Guinea in a two-legged series to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Guinea won the first match 1–0, but Niger won 2–0 in the second leg. Goalscorers Mohamed Chikoto and Issoufou Boubacar had sent Niger to another African Cup of Nations tournament.[13]
In their first match at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Niger lost 1–0 to Mali at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Mali captain Seydou Keita handed his nation the hard-fought victory five minutes before the end of the encounter. Niger then earned their first point ever at the African Cup of nations after holding DR Congo to a 0–0 draw. In the third match, Ghana outclassed Niger 3–0 to reach the quarter-finals as Group B winners.[14] Niger finished bottom of the group.
On 22 May 2014, Niger played a friendly match against Ukraine, marking the first ever match against a European nation. Oumarou Bale scored in the 56th minute, cancelling out a 20th-minute goal from Ivan Ordets before Ukraine won on a goal from Taras Stepanenko as the match finished 2–1.[15][16]
Results and fixtures[edit]
Win Draw Loss
2022[edit]
23 March Friendly | Niger ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Nouakchott, Mauritania |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Referee: Babacar Sarr (Mauritania) |
26 March Friendly | Libya ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Nouakchott, Mauritania |
Report | Stadium: Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Referee: Abdel Aziz Mohamed Bouh (Mauritania) |
4 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Niger ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Cotonou, Benin |
17:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié Referee: Komlanvi Aklassou (Togo) |
8 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Uganda ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Entebbe, Uganda |
16:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende Referee: Tsegay Mogos Teklu (Eritrea) |
23 September Friendly | Egypt ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Alexandria, Egypt |
Stadium: Borg El Arab Stadium |
20 November Friendly | Gabon ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Antalya, Turkey |
Stadium: Atilla Vehbi Konuk Tesisleri Referee: Zorbay Küçük (Turkey) |
2023[edit]
6 January Friendly | Senegal ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Tabarka, Tunisia |
13:00 CET (UTC+1) | Report | Stadium: La Cigale Sport Complex |
March 2023 AFCON qualification | Tanzania ![]() | v | ![]() | |
Report |
March 2023 AFCON qualification | Niger ![]() | v | ![]() | |
Report |
September 2023 AFCON qualification | Algeria ![]() | v | ![]() | Algeria |
Report |
September 2023 AFCON qualification | Niger ![]() | v | ![]() | |
Report |
Coaching history[edit]
Patrice Neveu (1999–2000)
Jean-Yves Chay (2000)
Yeo Martial (2002–2003)[17]
Bana Tchanile (2006–2007)
Hamey Amadou (2007–2008)
Dan Anghelescu (2008)
Frederic Costa (2008–2009)
Harouna Doula Gabde (2009–2012)
Rolland Courbis (2012)
Gernot Rohr (2012–2014)
Cheick Omar Diabate (2014–2015)
François Zahoui (2015–2019)
Jean-Guy Wallemme (2019–2020)
Jean-Michel Cavalli (2020–present)
Players[edit]
Current squad[edit]
The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Tanzania and Uganda on 4 and 8 June 2022.[18]
Caps and goals are correct as of 8 June 2022, after the match against Uganda.
Recent call-ups[edit]
The following players have been called up for Niger in the last 12 months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Oumarou Issaka | 12 February 1990 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
GK | Abdoul Boubacar | 7 September 1999 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Abdoul Garba | 23 December 1991 | 26 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Yacouba Diori | 8 September 1997 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Abdoul Aziz Hourba | 1 January 1995 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Farouk Idrissa | 12 February 2000 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Boubacar Hama | 17 May 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Salifou Massoudi | 11 July 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Abdoulaye Boureima Katakoré | 26 March 1993 | 34 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Hervé Lybohy | 24 July 1983 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DF | Zakariya Souleymane | 29 December 1994 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
MF | Ousseini Badamassi | 21 April 1997 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
MF | Ali Mohamed | 7 October 1995 | 39 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
MF | Yussif Moussa | 4 September 1998 | 15 | 1 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
MF | Abdoul Kader Djibo | 11 July 1991 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
FW | Seybou Koita | 15 April 1994 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
FW | Fabrice Yao | 29 December 1995 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
FW | Zakari Junior Lambo | 19 January 1999 | 9 | 1 | ![]() |
vs. ![]() |
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. |
Records[edit]
- As of 20 November 2022[19]
- Players in bold are still active with Niger.
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Competitive record[edit]
FIFA World Cup record[edit]
|
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
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Part of ![]() |
Part of ![]() | |||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||
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6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||
![]() ![]() |
Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||
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6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 11 | |||||||||
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6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | |||||||||
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 17 | |||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
Total | 0/22 | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 40 | 65 |
Africa Cup of Nations record[edit]
Africa Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
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Part of ![]() | |||||||
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Not affiliated to CAF | |||||||
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Withdrew | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Withdrew | |||||||
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Withdrew during qualifying | |||||||
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Disqualified for withdrawing in 1996 | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
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15th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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To be determined | |||||||
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Total | Group stage | 2/33 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 9 |

African Nations Championship record[edit]
African Nations Championship | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appearances: 3 | ||||||||
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
![]() |
Did not qualify | |||||||
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Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Qualified | |||||||
Total | Quarter-finals | 3/6 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 17 |
Head-to-head record[edit]
- As of 19 November 2019
Opponent | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Differential |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | −13 |
![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 |
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15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 24 | −7 |
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3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 |
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15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 22 | −9 |
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3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | −7 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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13 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 29 | −20 |
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6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 16 | −14 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
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6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 13 | −8 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
![]() |
11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 38 | −34 |
![]() |
7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 11 | −3 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
![]() |
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 |
![]() |
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | −4 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | −4 |
![]() |
8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 10 | −6 |
![]() |
5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 |
![]() |
7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 16 | −14 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | −6 |
![]() |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 |
![]() |
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 15 | −4 |
![]() |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 |
![]() |
9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 14 | −1 |
![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | −2 |
![]() |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 |
38 Countries | 174 | 37 | 38 | 99 | 156 | 320 | −164 |
References[edit]
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ Orange 2012 Afcon qualifiers :130 Million FCFA for the Menas Archived 2011-11-09 at the Wayback Machine. 22/05/2011 StarAfrica sports.
- ^ Menas to test Pharaohs form. Confederation of African Football. 10-09-2010
- ^ Dama Gazelle Nanger dama. Sahara Conservation Fund, 2007, 2011.
- ^ "CAN 2019 : la liste du Niger contre l'Egypte sans Maazou". Afrik-Foot. March 21, 2019.
- ^ "Niger team of 2019". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams.
- ^ "Project MENA is dedicated to assisting MENA, the Niger national soccer team. The project aimed to raise enough money to send the team to compete for the 2010 African Cup in Angola". Archived from the original on 2008-04-26.
- ^ CHAN 2011 : Un Niger héroïque mais éliminé par le Soudan – Football/CHAN 2011 – RFI 2011-02-19
- ^ "Niger in historic qualification despite Cairo loss". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ Fixtures, results and tables for the qualifiers for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. BBC Sport.
- ^ "Niger 0-1 Morocco". BBC Sport.
- ^ "2013 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers - Qualifier Rounds - MTNFootball". Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- ^ "Ghana cruises into African Cup quarters". GhanaWeb. January 28, 2013.
- ^ "Страница не найдена". shakhtar.com.
- ^ "Ukraine-Niger | European Qualifiers".
- ^ "Martial named Niger coach". BBC News. 26 November 2002.
- ^ "MENA | LA LISTE". Twitter. @fenifoot.
- ^ "Niger". National Football Teams.
External links[edit]
