Football in Niger
Encyclopedia
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 CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
finals, though they did reach the quarterfinals of qualifying in 1982, before losing to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 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
Moussa Yahaya
Moussa Yahaya is a former Nigerien footballer, who played as a striker.-Football career:Yahaya started his football career with JS du Ténéré...
at Legia Warsaw in Poland and Ibrahim Tankary
Ibrahim Tankary
Ibrahim Tankary is a Nigerien football striker. He currently plays for Rusas Foot.- Career :Tankary arrived at Zulte-Waregem in the summer of 2004 from FC Brussels. He had previously played for Sint-Truidense in the Jupiler League and Lommel, a now defunct club replaced by KVSK United. He left...
in Belgium's Jupiler League
Jupiler League
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
. Moussa Narry
Moussa Narry
Moussa Narry is a Ghanaian-Nigerien football midfielder who currently plays for Le Mans UC 72.- Career :...
, a Nigerien citizen but a Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
international, has played in Holland and currently plays with AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
of France.
Domestic
Football in Niger is almost entirely amateur, with some of the ten teams in the Niger Premier LeagueNiger Premier League
The Niger Premier League is the highest division in football in Niger. The league's first year of operation was 1966.-Structure:...
(begun in 1966) being semi-professional. The Niger Cup
Niger Cup
The Niger Cup is the national football competition, on a knock-out-basis in Niger.-Niger Cup Finals:-Performance by club:...
(begun in 1974) is open to amateur leagues throughout the nation. League play has been dominated by clubs from the capital city of Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
, with Sahel SC Niamey
Sahel SC
Sahel Sporting Club is a Nigerien football club based in Niamey. The club was formed in 1974 from the football club Secteur 7.-Achievements:*Niger Premier League: 13*Niger Cup: 9-Performance in CAF competitions:...
and Olympic FC de Niamey
Olympic FC de Niamey
Olympic FC de Niamey is a Nigerien football club based in Niamey. Their home games are played at Général Seyni Kountché Stadion. The club was formed in 1974 from the football club Secteur 6.-Achievements:...
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
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
's visit to Niger in 2007. Mobbed by fans at every stop, Zidane delivered funds and toured projects both football and development related.
Nigerien Football Topics
- Fédération Nigerienne de FootballFédération Nigerienne de FootballThe Fédération Nigerienne de Football is the governing body of football in Niger. It was founded in 1967, and affiliated to FIFA and to CAF the same year. It organizes the national football league and the national team.-External links:*...
- Niger national football teamNiger national football teamThe Niger national football team, nicknamed the Menas, 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...
Nigerien Football Stadia
- Stade Général Seyni Kountché: (Niamey)
- Stade de DossoStade de DossoStade de Dosoo is a multi-use stadium in Dosso, Niger. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home venue for Entente FC. The stadium holds 7,000 people....
- Stade de MaradiStade de MaradiStade de Maradi is a multi-purpose stadium in Maradi, Niger.-Use:It is used mostly for football matches and serves as the home venue for Jangorzo FC....
- Stade de ZinderStade de ZinderStade de Zinder is a multi-use stadium in Zinder, Niger. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home venue for Espoir FC. The stadium holds 10,000 people....
Nigerien Footballers
- Ismaël AlassaneIsmaël AlassaneIsmaël Eragae Alassane is a Nigerien footballer, who is currently playing for Al Sahel in Kuwaiti Division One. He plays on position of central back.-Career:...
- Kassaly DaoudaKassaly DaoudaKassaly Daouda is a Nigerien footballer who is a goalkeeper for Cotonsport Garoua.- Career :Daouda began his career by JS du Ténéré, joined than 2003 to Sahel SC...
- Alhassane IssoufouAlhassane IssoufouAlhassane Dante Issoufou is a Nigerien footballer who is a striker and played for FUS Rabat.-Career:Before signed with Morrocain club played for ASO Chlef and formerly presented Zumunta AC, Africa Sports, CA Bordj Bou Arreridj, JS du Ténéré, KSC Lokeren and RC Kadiogo.-International...
- Daouda KamilouDaouda KamilouKamilou Daouda is a Nigerien footballer. He currently plays as a striker for Al-Ittihad.-References:*...
- Mohammed MuyeiMohammed MuyeiMohammed Muyei is a Nigerien footballer. He currently plays for New Edubiase United.- Career :Muyei played from 2001 to 2003 for Sekondi Hasaacas F.C., in the past he played also for Kelantan FA and later for Stade Malien .- International career :He is also a member of Niger national football...
- Moussa NarryMoussa NarryMoussa Narry is a Ghanaian-Nigerien football midfielder who currently plays for Le Mans UC 72.- Career :...
- Ibrahim TankaryIbrahim TankaryIbrahim Tankary is a Nigerien football striker. He currently plays for Rusas Foot.- Career :Tankary arrived at Zulte-Waregem in the summer of 2004 from FC Brussels. He had previously played for Sint-Truidense in the Jupiler League and Lommel, a now defunct club replaced by KVSK United. He left...
- Moussa YahayaMoussa YahayaMoussa Yahaya is a former Nigerien footballer, who played as a striker.-Football career:Yahaya started his football career with JS du Ténéré...
- Moussa Maazou