- Niger national football team
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Niger Nickname(s) Mena Association Niger Football Federation Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa) Confederation CAF (Africa) Head coach Harouna Doula Gabde Home stadium Stade Général Seyni Kountché FIFA code NIG FIFA ranking 95 Highest FIFA ranking 68 (November 1994) Lowest FIFA ranking 196 (August 2002) Elo ranking 117 Home coloursAway coloursFirst international Nigeria 1–0 Niger
(Senegal; 11 April 1963)Biggest win Niger 7–1 Mauritania
(Niamey, Niger; 12 October 1990)Biggest defeat Niger 1–9 Ghana
(Niger; 21 September 1969)Africa Cup of Nations Appearances 1 (First in 2012) Best result TBD The Niger national football team, nicknamed the Menas,[1][2] is overseen by the Fédération Nigerienne de Football and a member of 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[3] The Dama appears on their badge in the colors of of the national flag.
Contents
History
Although one of the weaker 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 World Cup qualifiers, in which Niger eliminated Somalia and Togo on away goals, 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 one record – they trashed Mauritania 7–1 in continental qualifiers, which is for now the highest win for Mena.
In the 2004 African Nations Cup qualifiers, Niger won all their home games (including a win over Guinea) to finish on 9 points, just 3 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 Niger FA would have turned to fundraising to pay for their trip to the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, had they qualified.[4]
In June 2008, Romanian coach Dan Anghelescu[5] took over as team manager from Hamey Amadou, who was dismissed. Anghelescu had been coaching in Africa since 1999, training teams from Algeria, Tunisia and Burkina Faso. On 19 December 2008, Anghelescu was dismissed after a disastrous six-month spell. Former Niger U-17 coach Frederic Costa was appointed the new head coach of the Niger national side. On 10 October 2010, Niger earned a shock 1–0 win over Egypt at home in the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualification.
On 8 October 2011, Niger qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.[6]
Competition recrds
World Cup record
- 1930 to 1974 – Did not enter
- 1978 to 1982 – Did not qualify
- 1986 – Withdrew
- 1990 – Did not enter
- 1994 – Did not qualify
- 1998 – Withdrew
- 2002 – Did not enter
- 2006 to 2010 – Did not qualify
Africa Cup of Nations record
- 1957 to 1968 – Did not enter
- 1970 to 1972 – Did not qualify
- 1974 – Withdrew
- 1976 – Did not qualify
- 1978 to 1980 – Withdrew
- 1982 – Did not enter
- 1984 – Did not qualify
- 1986 to 1990 – Did not enter
- 1992 to 1994 – Did not qualify
- 1996 – Withdrew during qualifying
- 1998 – Disqualified for withdrawing in 1996
- 2000 to 2010 – Did not qualify
- 2012 – Qualified
Head-to-Head Records against other countries
As of March 28, 2011
Opponent Games Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Differential Algeria
4 1 0 3 1 11 −10 Angola
2 0 0 2 2 5 −3 Benin
13 3 4 6 16 20 −4 Botswana
2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 Burkina Faso
11 2 5 4 12 16 −4 Cameroon
3 0 1 2 0 4 −4 Chad
1 0 1 0 1 1 0 Congo
2 0 0 2 1 7 −6 Côte d'Ivoire
12 0 2 10 9 28 −19 Egypt
1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 Equatorial Guinea
1 0 1 0 1 1 0 Ethiopia
2 1 0 1 3 3 0 Gabon
2 0 0 2 1 6 −5 Gambia
1 0 1 0 1 1 0 Ghana
10 0 1 9 4 35 −31 Guinea
5 2 0 3 6 10 −4 Lesotho
2 1 0 1 3 3 0 Liberia
5 2 0 3 3 7 −4 Libya*
3 0 1 2 3 7 −4 Mali
7 1 2 4 4 9 −5 Mauritania
4 3 1 0 9 2 +7 Morocco
5 1 0 4 2 14 −12 Namibia
1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 Nigeria
3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 Senegal
5 1 1 3 3 6 −3 Sierra Leone
5 3 0 2 11 14 −3 Somalia
2 0 2 0 1 1 0 South Africa
1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 Togo
8 3 2 3 10 11 −1 Uganda
4 1 1 2 4 5 −1 30 Countries 127 29 26 70 113 238 −125 - Match versus Libya in November 2010 finished 1–1, but Niger lost 4–1 in penalty shootout, thus that counts as a defeat (penalties not counted)
Recent results and forthcoming fixtures
Date Location Opponent Score Scorers for Niger Competition June 19, 2010 Niamey, Niger Chad
1 – 1 Koffi Dan Kowa 90' Friendly August 11, 2010 Porto Novo, Benin Benin
0 – 0 N/A Friendly September 4, 2010 Nelspruit, South Africa South Africa
0 – 2 N/A 2012 CAF Qualifying October 10, 2010 Niamey, Niger Egypt
1 – 0 Ouwo Moussa Maazou 7' 2012 CAF Qualifying November 17, 2010 Tripoli, Libya Libya
1 – 1 Ouwo Moussa Maazou 73' Friendly February 09, 2011 Marrakech, Morocco Morocco
0 – 3 N/A Friendly March 27, 2011 Niamey, Niger Sierra Leone
3 – 1 Alhassane Issoufou 64', Modibo Sidibé 79', Kamilou Daouda 89' 2012 CAF Qualifying June 04, 2011 Freetown, Sierra Leone Sierra Leone
0 – 1 N/A 2012 CAF Qualifying August 10, 2011 Niamey, Niger Togo
3 – 3 Ouwo Moussa Maazou 45', 70', Kamilou Daouda 80' Friendly August 14, 2011 Monrovia, Liberia Liberia
0 – 0 N/A Friendly September 04, 2011 Niamey, Niger South Africa
2 – 1 Koffi Dan Kowa 15', Ouwo Moussa Maazou 47' 2012 CAF Qualifying Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification:
# Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps (Goals) Club 1 Kassaly Daouda Goalkeeper 19 August 1983 54 (0) Cotonsport Garoua
32 Losseny Doumbia Goalkeeper 0 December 1990 DC Motema Pembé
16 Rabo Saminou Goalkeeper 11 November 1985 Sahel SC
3 Lassina Abdoul Karim Left back / Defensive midfielder 20 May 1987 Cotonsport Garoua
4 Amadou Kader Right back / Centre back 5 April 1989 Cotonsport Garoua
00 Ismaël Alassane Centre back / Right back 3 April 1984 Al Sahel
13 Chikoto Mohamed Centre back 28 February 1989 7 (0) Platinum Stars
14 Délis Ahou Left back 23 August 1984 6 (0) Excelsior Virton
15 Moussa Bonkano Djibrilla Left back / Right back 4 (0) ASFAN
18 Koffi Dan Kowa Centre back 19 September 1989 16 (2) Espérance Sportive de Zarzis
00 Karim Paraiso Centre back 30 March 1989 Sahel
00 Karim Lancina Central midfielder 20 May 1987 43 (3) Cotonsport Garoua
00 Boubacar Issoufou Central midfielder 2 February 1990 F.C. Phuket
6 Idrissa Laouali (c) Central midfielder 9 November 1983 ASFAN
00 Pascal Anicet Central midfielder 27 March 1987 AS-FNIS
00 Abdoul Aziz Abdou 'Didi' Right midfielder / Playmaker 25 March 1990 Sahel
10 Boubacar Talatou Central Midfielder / Striker 12 March 1989 7 (0) Orlando Pirates
00 Souleymane Dela Sacko Central midfielder 1 August 1984 AS Mangasport
2 Jimmy Bulus Central midfielder 22 October 1986 NA Hussein Dey
00 Hinsa Issoufou Left midfielder / Supporting striker 14 September 1991 ASFAN
20 William N'Gounou Left winger 31 July 1983 5 (0) IF Limhamn Bunkeflo
8 Olivier Harouna Bonnes Defensive midfielder 7 February 1990 3 (0) FC Nantes
17 Moussa Mohammed Left winger / striker 1 January 1984 ASFA Yennega
12 Mohamed Abdoulaye Striker / Left winger 25 March 1990 2 (0) Mazembe
2 Ouwo Moussa Maazou Striker 25 August 1988 12 (6) Zulte Waregem
9 Daouda Kamilou Striker 29 December 1987 17 (5) CS Sfaxien
7 Seidou Idrissa Striker 24 December 1988 Cotonsport Garoua
11 Alhassane Issoufou Striker / Right winger 1 January 1981 Raja Casablanca
References
- ^ Orange 2012 Afcon qualifiers :130 Million FCFA for the Menas. 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.
- ^ "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.". http://www.helpmena.com/index.html.
- ^ "Announcement about Dan Anghelescu becoming the manager of Niger". http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=22611&cat_id=6&oldaction=home®pay_id=0. (French)
- ^ "Niger in historic qualification despite Cairo loss". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2011-10-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15229854.stm. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
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