- Title: NIGER: Underdogs prepare for second ever AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) appearance
- Date: 7th January 2013
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NATIONAL TEAM, MENA, TRAINING JACKY BONNEVAY, COACH ASSISTANT HANDLING BALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) JACKY BONNEVAY, COACH ASSISTANT SAYING: "We don't have stars in this team. We must be united. Unity will be the strength of this team as it was its strength against Guinea, which was not an easy team to win. We have been lucky to have the players at our disposal quite often, we have been able to work well." VARIOUS OF TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (French) ABDOULKARIM KONATE (MIDFIELDER SAYING: "The first time, we went to Gabon for our first CAN. We went to discover. So, we have seen our weaknesses and our qualities. Now, for our second time, we are not going to watch, we are going to try to confirm." VARIOUS STREET SCENES VARIOUS OF AN EVENT ORGANIZED BY HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS IN NIAMEY TO COLLECT MONEY FOR MENA WOMEN PUTTING MONEY IN THE BOX FOR DONATIONS FOOTBALL MATCH AT EVENT PRESIDENT OF NIGER FOOTBALL FEDERATION (FENIFOOT) COLONEL DJIBRILLA HIMA FENIFOOT LOGO ON DJIBRILLA'S SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF NIGER FOOTBALL FEDERATION (FENIFOOT) COLONEL DJIBRILLA HIMA SAYING: "Everybody knows that we don't have big professionals in our team, we don't have individuals. We have a collective, we have boys who are learning, who want to fight. We are going to work on this." VARIOUS OF STREET (SOUNDBITE) (French) ABDELNASSER MOUMOUNI, STUDENT SAYING: "Our team is big enough. We have the basis. We have the national support. We only lack a little bit of technique." RIVER NIGER AT DUSK
- Embargoed: 22nd January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Niger
- Country: Niger
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVATCOKQMBO09KNTY9CIAF6DWZ1
- Story Text: Niger made an unprecedented qualification in October 2012 for the Africa Cup of Nations - only the second time in the team's history, sending a message to the continents' soccer giants they can cause upsets in this year's tournament being held in South Africa later in January.
Although it is one of the weaker teams in west Africa, Niger has in the past produced some noteworthy victories including a 1-0 shocking victory against Egypt in a 2010 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Known as Mena, the Niger national team beat Guinea in a return leg to secure their place at AFCON 2013.
With no foreign based players, assistant coach Jacky Bonnevay said the squad would be unique because each member would be equally responsible for the team's performance
"We don't have stars in this team. We must be united. Unity will be the strength of this team as it was its strength against Guinea, which was not an easy team to win. We have been lucky to have the players at our disposal quite often, we have been able to work well," he said.
Their qualification has emboldened and motivated veteran players like Abdoulkarim Konate who believes victory is possible.
"The first time, we went to Gabon for our first CAN. We went to discover. So, we have seen our weaknesses and our qualities. Now, for our second time, we are not going to watch, we are going to try to confirm," he said.
Mena's long history of financial problems has forced it to withdraw from several international tournaments in the past.
Fundraising events like this one organised by high school students in Niamey have been held in various parts of the country to raise money for the national team.
Niger's football governing body led by Djibilla Hima has thrown its support behind Mena, calling them the "underdogs" of the tournament.
"Everybody knows that we don't have big professionals in our team, we don't have individuals. We have a collective, we have boys who are learning, who want to fight. We are going to work on this," said Hima.
"Our team is big enough. We have the basis. We have the national support. We only lack a little bit of technique, said Abdelnasser Moumouni, a student and fan.
Mena is drawn in group B against Mali, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Keeping Ghana's Black Stars on their toes, Niger will be fielding lead striker Koffi Dankwa who naturalized to Niger in order to play international football and helped qualify Mena for their first ever AFCON tournament in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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