Football in Niger

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Niger, a nation of 14 million and one of the poorest countries in the world. [See: List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita and List of countries by Human Development Index]

International

While popular, Niger have so far been unsuccessful in international football, never winning a major tournament and failing to qualify for any FIFA World Cup finals, though they did reach the quarterfinals of qualifying in 1982, before losing to Algeria, who qualified for the 1982 World Cup. They have either failed to qualify or been forced to withdraw from every African Nations Cup since 1969. As of 2008, there are no Nigerien nationals playing with top level European clubs. In 2004, a handful of Nigerien internationals were playing in Europe including Moussa Yahaya at Legia Warsaw in Poland and Ibrahim Tankary in Belgium's Jupiler League. Moussa Narry, a Nigerien citizen but a Ghana international, has played in Holland and currently plays with AJ Auxerre of France.

Domestic

Football in Niger is almost entirely amateur, with some of the ten teams in the Niger Premier League (begun in 1966) being semi-professional. The Niger Cup (begun in 1974) is open to amateur leagues throughout the nation. League play has been dominated by clubs from the capital city of Niamey, with Sahel SC Niamey and Olympic FC de Niamey capturing almost two thirds of the titles between them. Below this there are numerous local and national amateur leagues and competitions. Many sections of the Nigerien government, notably the police and armed forces, sponsor amateur clubs.

Football's popularity, as well as the Nigerien peoples passion for international football was highlighted by former World Footballer of the Year Zinedine Zidane's visit to Niger in 2007. Mobbed by fans at every stop, Zidane delivered funds and toured projects both football and development related. [ [http://www.pnud.ne/visit_zizou.htm Visite de Zinedine Zidane au Niger. 13-12-07 communiqué de presse] : Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement, Niger.]

Nigerien Football Topics

*Fédération Nigerienne de Football
*Niger national football team

Nigerien Footbal Stadia

*Stade Général Seyni Kountché: (Niamey)
*Stade de Dosso
*Stade de Maradi
*Stade de Zinder

Nigerien Footballers

* Ismaël Alassane
* Gani Anifomose
* Kassaly Daouda
* Alhassane Issoufou
* Daouda Kamilou
* Mohammed Muyei
* Moussa Narry
* Ibrahim Tankary
* Moussa Yahaya

Nigerien International Referees

*Lucien Bouchardeau

References

* [http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=nig/index.html FIFA: Fédération Nigerienne de Football News and background] . Retrieved 30 January 2008.
* [http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=nig/goalprogramme/index.html FIFA: Goal Programme - Fédération Nigerienne de Football - 2006] . Retrieved 30 January 2008.

External links

*fr [http://www.republicain-niger.com/Index.asp?affiche=showArticle.asp&rub=Sport Le Republicain-Niger daily, Sports section] .