The Niger national football team (French: Équipe de football du Niger)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 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, orange and purple. Their nickname comes from the Dama gazelle, native to Niger, the Hausa name of which is Meyna or MénasDama Gazelle Nanger dama . Sahara Conservation Fund, 2007, 2011. The Dama appears on their badge in the colors of the national flag.
History 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.
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.CHAN 2011 : Un Niger héroïque mais éliminé par le Soudan – Football/CHAN 2011 – RFI 2011-02-19
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.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, 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.
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.
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. 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.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
2027
Coaching history
Heinz-Peter Uberjahn (1981–1986) Soumaila Tiemogo (1992) David Nadjadoum (1992–1994) Soumaila Tiemogo (1998) Amadou Toure (1998) Patrice Neveu (1999–2000) Jean-Yves Chay (2000) Yeo Martial (2002–2003) 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 (2020–2023) Zakaria Yaou Ibrahim (Interim) (2023) Ezzaki Badou (2023–present)
Players
Current squad The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group E match against Morocco and the friendly against Bonaire on 21 and 25 March 2025.
Caps and goals are correct as of 21 March 2025, after the match against Morocco.
Recent call-ups The following players have been called up for Niger in the last 12 months.
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player has retired from international football. SUS Suspended from the national team.
Records
Players in bold are still active with Niger.
Most appearances
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer 1 Kassaly Daouda 89 0 2002–2022 2 Youssouf Oumarou 75 8 2013–present 3 Abdoulaye Katkoré 74 0 2014–present 4 Koffi Dan Kowa 67 4 2008–2018 5 Victorien Adebayor 64 22 2015–present 6 Amadou Moutari 60 3 2012–present 7 Moussa Maâzou 54 13 2008–20218 Lassina Konaté 53 1 2006–2016 Souleymane Sacko 53 3 2007–2019 10 Ali Mohamed 52 0 2013–present
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer 1 Victorien Adebayor 22 64 2015–present 2 Daniel Sosah 15 34 2021–present 3 Moussa Maâzou 13 54 2008–2021 4 Kamilou Daouda 10 37 2007–2019 5 Youssouf Oumarou 8 75 2013–present 6 Mounkaila Ide Barkire 7 13 1992–19987 Zakari Lambo 6 10 1990–1995 Issa Djibrilla 6 32 2020–present Mohamed Wonkoye 6 49 2012–present 10 Mahamane Cissé 5 38 2013–2022
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition*1930 to 1958Part of Part of 1962Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member1966 to 1974Did not enterDid not enter 1978Did not qualify210136 1982622247 1986WithdrewWithdrew 1990Did not enterDid not enter 1994Did not qualify421132 1998WithdrewWithdrew 2002Did not enterDid not enter 2006Did not qualify200207 20106105511 20146114612 2018421163 202262131317 202685031110 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total44166225175
Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations recordYearRoundPosition 1955 1957Part of 1959 1962Not affiliated to CAF 1963 1965 1968Did not enter 1970Did not qualify 1972 1974Withdrew 1976Did not qualify 1978Withdrew 1980 1982Did not enter 1984Did not qualify 1986Did not enter 1988 1990 1992Did not qualify 1994 1996Withdrew during qualifying 1998Disqualified for withdrawing in 1996 2000 to 2010Did not qualify 2012 Group stage 15th 3 0 0 3 1 5 2013 15th 3 0 1 2 0 4 2015Did not qualify 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027To be determined 2029TotalGroup stage2/35601519
African Nations Championship African Nations Championship recordAppearances: 4YearRoundPosition* 2009Did not qualify 2011Quarter-finals7th421133 2014Did not qualify 2016Group stage16th 3012311 2018Did not qualify 2020Group stage12th302123 2022Fourth place4th521236TotalFourth place4/7154561123
UEMOA Tournament
Head-to-head record
OpponentGamesWinsDrawsLossesGoals ForGoals AgainstGoal Differential10118327 −24400428 −6163671825 −7110060 +6321042 +2110031 +2193891729 −12301204 −4302135 −2211021 +17124713 −62200114 +7311142 +27115219 −17101011 0520347 −3211021 +192071021 −11201113 -2131210740 −338306914 −5130211929 −20320154 +18323710 −38053713 −6201126 −48125410 −65320103 +79108323 −20101011 0110021 +1300317 −6712437 −474031215 −3312041 +1311123 −1210141 +3411223 -1124351718 -1300324 −28224711 -4100112 −1100104 −4220031 +2101011 +0 45 Countries 237 54 54 128 226 404 −178
Honours Regional West African Nations Cup Third place (1): 1986 UEMOA Tournament Champions (1): 2010 Runners-up (2): 2007, 2009
References
External links
Niger Football Federation website – official website Niger at CAF Niger at FIFA