Niger-South Africa CAN 2012 - Niger opened a new chapter in their football history with qualification to the Orange 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. It is the first time the Mena will be playing at the flagship continental football tournament scheduled for next year in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Over the last few 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, the qualification of the locally composed national team for the 2011 African Nations Championship (CHAN), at the expense of Nigeria. It was the first time the Niger had reached the finals of a major continental championship at the senior level.

At the tourney held in Sudan last February, Niger performed creditably well advancing to the last eight alongside South Africa from a group which included Ghana and Zimbabwe. Under the technical guidance of local coach Harouna Doula, the Nigeriens won the hearts of the local fans with their steady rise. However, their journey was soon to end after a gallant display against hosts Sudan at the quarter final stage at the Al-Hilal Stadium in Omdurman where they lost out on penalties. Captain Idrissa Laouali, striker Mohammed Abdoulaye, now with T.P. Mazembe and Jimmy Bulus, also with NA Hussein Dey (Morocco) were amongst the star performers of the team.

With that performance, the signs remained positive, but in a group with reigning African champions, Egypt; 1996 winners South Africa and Sierra Leone, chances of qualification did not look that bright.

The Mena began the campaign in Group C with a 2-0 loss to South Africa in Nelspruit before a shocking 1-0 goal victory over seven-time champions; Egypt in Niamey revived their chances. Striker Moussa Maazou, on loan at Belgian side S.V. Zulte Waregem from CSKA Moscow of Russia scored the only goal of the match.

In early March, strikes from Alhassane Issoufou, Modibe Sidibe and Daouda Kamilou catapulted them to a 3-1 win over Sierra Leone. Three months later, they were on the losing side of the reverse fixture in Freetown, 1-0. At that time, Egypt had crashed out with two games remaining, meaning the three others teams were in contention for the group's automatic spot.

In the penultimate match against South Africa, Maazou was at his best once again scoring the winner as the Mena cruised to a 2-1 win. In other Group C match, Sierra Leone beat Egypt and also boosted their chances of qualification.

On the final day, Niger lost 3-0 to Egypt in Cairo whilst South Africa and Sierra Leone drew goalless in Nelspruit. All three teams; Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone finished on nine points apiece but the Mena had the upper hand with respect to Article 14.1 of the tournament regulation which states that "Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams" will serve the order of ranking in case of equality of points between two or more teams after all the group stage matches. As a result Niger finished on 6 points with South Africa and Sierra Leone both on 5 points. How fortunate can one be even in defeat?

After several years, what remained a dream has become a reality for Niger football and fans partied all night in Agadez and Niamey in response to the historic feat. It took the generation led by Laouali nicknamed "Pele," Kassali, Maazou, Bulus, Issoufou, Kofi Dankwa, Mohamed Chikoto, Boubacar Talatou under the technical leadership of Doula to reach the promise land of African football.

Confederation of African Football/10/10/2011