Niger – Third time lucky for Mena

Niger is making their third appearance in the history of Total African Nations Championship, hoping to be a third time lucky.

In Sudan 2011, Niger ranked 2nd in Group B with 6 points and qualified for the quarterfinals against the host country Sudan. After having put up great resistance to the Sudanese, the Nigeriens lost this match on penalties 4-3, after the 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.

In Rwanda 2016, Mena bowed heavily after three successive defeats against neighbors Nigeria, Guinea and Tunisia to get eliminated from the group stage.

Harouna Doula Gabdé (Coach, Niger)

His name rings a bell on the national football scene. The former Mena defender has undoubtedly marked the course of Nigerien football over the past two decades. Harouna Doula was already a monument of Nigerien football before qualifying the Mena for the first CHAN in 2011, then the first AFCON in 2012 by eliminating in giants Egypt, South Africa and Sierra Leonne.

For his role in this feat of Niger, Harouna Doula receives the trophy for the best coach of the year at the “Glo-CAF Awards” held in Accra, Ghana in December 2011.

Players to watch

MOUSSA ISSA ADAMOU - FORWARD

ABDOUL MOUMOUNI DARENKOUM - MIDFIELDER

ISSA IBRAHIM DJIBRILLA - FORWARD

OUSSEINI BADAMASSI - MIDFIELDER

MAROU BOUBACAR IBRAHIM - FORWARD