Ngounou and Niger draw many positives from their CAN debut

• Despite failing to go past group stage of tournament, Nigeriens off with heads high

Football in Niger is considered to be one of the primary games which has earned immense popularity in recent times.

In fact, the success stories of football in Niger reveal the innate enthusiastic nature of the countrymen and also the development that the nation is acquiring in diverse spheres of life.

It is no wonder that the “Mena”, as Niger’s national football team is popularly referred to, played in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, at the expense of Egypt and South Africa.

And while the ending didn’t turn out quite as well as they all might have hoped for, it was a landmark appearance in many respects.

For instance, William Tonji Ngounou wrote his name into Niger’s record books when he scored the country’s first goal at a Nations Cup championship in a 2-1 loss to Tunisia.

Without a goal away from the Nigerien capital Niamey throughout this Nations Cup, this was a momentous occasion.

Locally composed national team

“I will be remembered for scoring that goal. I’m sure that people back home are quite happy that we got our first away goal in this tournament,” Ngounou, the 28-year old IF Limhamn Bunkeflo midfielder in the Swedish league said after their loss to Tunisia.

Over the last six years, Niger football has been on a crescendo notably the performance of local side AS FAN in the 2010 Orange CAF Confederation Cup where they reached the mini-league stage.

Then came the qualification of the locally composed national team for the 2011 African Nations Championship (CHAN), at the expense of Africa’s footballing powerhouse, Nigeria.

“Our journey here has been quite rough, long and tricky. We had to go past the challenges of better and bigger sides,” added Ngounou.

Under the technical guidance of local coach Harouna Doula, the Nigeriens won the hearts of the local fans with their steady rise.

Star performers

However, their journey was soon to end in the hands of the Tunisians after their 2-0 loss to hosts Gabon in their opening match.

Captain Abdoul Karim, striker Mohammed Abdoulaye, now with TP Mazembe, Moussa Maazou and Jimmy Bulus, were amongst the star performers of the team.

“This is a plus for us, to be in such a high profile tournament was enough experience,” remarked Maazou, striker with the Belgian Pro League side S.V. Zulte Waregem.

According to the 23-year old forward, their triumph over great teams on their way to the finals here can’t be compared to anything.

“Being in the same group as reigning African champions, Egypt, 1996 winners South Africa and Sierra Leone, chances of qualification did not look that bright,” he added.