| Football in Niger | |
|---|---|
| Country | Niger |
| Governing body | Nigerien Football Federation |
| National team(s) | Niger men's national soccer team Niger women's national football team |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
CAF Champions League CAF Confederation Cup CAF Super Cup FIFA Club World Cup FIFA World Cup (National Team) African Cup of Nations (National Team) | |
Football is the most popular sport in Niger , a nation of over 25 million. [1]
Despite the sport's popularity in the country, Niger have so far been rather 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 for the 1982 World Cup, losing to Algeria. They either failed to qualify for or were forced to withdraw from every African Nations Cup between 1969 and 2010. Niger finally participated in the competition for the first time in 2012 after topping a qualifying group that included South Africa and Egypt. Later that year, they defeated Guinea over two legs to reach the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. On both occasions, Niger finished bottom of their group, gaining a solitary point in 2013. They have been unable to qualify for any subsequent edition of the tournament, despite the competition's expansion from 16 teams to 24 from 2019 onwards.
As of 2023, there are no Nigerien nationals playing with top level European clubs. In the 2000s, a handful of Nigerien internationals have played 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, played in the Netherlands and with AJ Auxerre and Le Mans FC of France.
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 and the Nigerien people's passion for the international game were 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. [2]
| # | Stadium | Capacity | City | Tenants | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 | Niamey | Niger national football team |  |
| 2 | Stade municipal | 10,000 | Niamey | ||
| 3 | Stade de Zinder | 10,000 | Zinder |
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, popularly known as Zizou, is a French professional football manager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder. He most recently coached Spanish club Real Madrid and is one of the most successful coaches in the world. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Zidane was a playmaker renowned for his elegance, vision, passing, ball control, and technique. He received many individual accolades as a player, including being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and winning the 1998 Ballon d'Or.
The France national football team represents France in men's international football. It is controlled by the French Football Federation, the governing body for football in France. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions. The team's colours and imagery reference two national symbols: the French blue-white-red tricolour and Gallic rooster. The team is colloquially known as Les Bleus. They play home matches at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and train at Centre National du Football in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines.
The music of Niger has developed from the musical traditions of a mix of ethnic groups; Hausa, the Zarma-Songhai, Tuareg, Fula, Kanuri, Toubou, Diffa Arabs and Gurma and the Boudouma from Lac Chad.
The Niger national football team 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 The Dama appears on their badge in the colors of the national flag.
Moussa Yahaya is a Nigerien retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He represented the Niger national team on sixteen occasions.
Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) is a multi-purpose stadium in Niamey, Niger. Used for football matches, it is home to the Niger national football team, as well as Niger Premier League clubs Sahel SC, Olympic FC de Niamey, Zumunta AC and JS du Ténéré, as well as club competitions such as the Niger Cup. The venue is also sometimes used for rugby union. It is the largest stadium in Niamey, followed by the 10,000-capacity Stade municipal.
The Super Ligue, formerly known as Ligue 1, is the top division of football in Niger. There are 14 teams competing in the league, which operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Ligue Nationale.
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Kassaly Daouda is a Nigerien footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Nigerian club Katsina United.
Moussa Narry is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Born in Niger he made six appearances for the Ghana national team.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Niger:
Association Sportive des Forces Armées Nigériennes or simply AS FAN is a Nigerien football club based in Niamey and operated by the Nigerien Armed Forces. They play at the stade du camp Bagagi Iya, a small stadium in one of Niamey's military bases, although larger matches are played at the stade Général Seyni Kountché. Their current club president is Army Lieutenant Colonel Djibrilla Hima Hamidou.
Ouwo Moussa Maâzou commonly known as Moussa Maâzou, is a Nigerien professional footballer who plays as a striker for Luxembourgish club FC The Belval Belvaux.
Rugby union in Niger is a minor but growing sport.
Olivier Harouna Bonnes is a Nigerien international footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Nonthaburi United.
Doula Gabde Harouna, better known as Harouna Doula is a Nigerien football manager and former player. He was Manager of the Niger national football team from 2009 to 2012, leading Niger to its first African Nations Cup qualification in 2012, their first African Nations Championship qualification in 2011, and the winning of the UEMOA Tournament in 2010. He was demoted following the first match loss at the 2012 Nations Cup finals.
Djibril Moussa Souna is a Nigerien footballer. He currently plays as a defender for Nigerien side AS GNN. He is a member of Niger national football team, called at 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 2015 African U-17 Championship was the 11th edition of the biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 17 and below. The tournament took place in Niamey, Niger, and was originally scheduled to be held between 2 and 16 May. However, the date of the opening match was pushed forward to 15 February, with the tournament scheduled to conclude with the final on 1 March.
AS SONIDEP, founded in 2014 by the Nigerien Petroleum Products Company (SONIDEP), is an association football club based in Niamey, Niger. It is the most recent Nigerien football club.
The 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations was the 15th edition of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, the biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 20 and below. In May 2015, it was decided that the tournament would be hosted by Niger.
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