Niger's Mena have reached the Africa Cup of Nations and produced competitive qualifying campaigns, but the country has never won AFCON or qualified for the World Cup.

World Cup 2026 status

Niger entered the CAF qualifying route for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but did not reach the finals. The country is still waiting for its first World Cup appearance.

2026 statusQualification routeOutcome
Entered qualifying; did not qualifyCAF qualifyingDid not reach the finals

FIFA — official 2026 final standings

Algeria flag
1963
DEBUT
vs Algeria
Niger entered African international football
Gabon flag
2012
AFCON
vs Gabon
The Mena reached AFCON for the first time
Ghana flag
2013
AFCON
vs Ghana
Niger returned to the continental finals
Niger flag
Now
WAIT
vs Niger
Still waiting for an AFCON win and World Cup appearance

The first AFCON appearances opened the door

Niger qualified for AFCON in 2012 and 2013, gaining experience against Africa's strongest teams. The group stage remained a barrier, but qualification showed that the Mena could compete beyond regional football.

Niger's tournament profile

Major titles
0
AFCON appearances
2
World Cup appearances
0
Niger Mena preparing together for an AFCON qualifier in white-and-orange kits on a Sahel training ground
Editorial illustration: Niger's first AFCON appearances opened the door.

Building a team in the Sahel

Niger's football develops in a difficult regional environment, but the team benefits from players gaining experience in North Africa and Europe. Organisation and attacking depth are the keys to turning qualification into wins.

Nigerien footballers building a team in the Sahel during a focused training session
Editorial illustration: organisation and depth are central to building a team in the Sahel.

Niger's men's record at a glance

TournamentBest resultStatus
Africa Cup of NationsGroup stage2012
FIFA World CupNever qualifiedWaiting
Major titles trackedNoneWaiting
Niger Mena competing in a tense AFCON group-stage match against a strong African opponent
Editorial illustration: the Mena have reached AFCON but are still seeking a first win.

The next step

A first AFCON win and a place in the knockout stage would be historic. World Cup qualification is the longer-term ambition.

Next generation of Nigerien footballers training at a youth academy on a Sahel pitch
Editorial illustration: Niger is chasing its first AFCON knockout appearance.

Niger's road from AFCON qualification to a first knockout run

AFCON
Gabon flag
The qualification breakthrough
Niger reached AFCON in 2012
AFCON
Ghana flag
The return
The Mena qualified again in 2013
NEXT
Niger flag
The next target
Win an AFCON match and reach the knockout stage

Related teams and pages

Compare this story with other national teams and continue exploring TrophyDrought.

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Frequently asked questions

Has Niger won AFCON?

No. Niger have never won the Africa Cup of Nations.

Has Niger qualified for the World Cup?

No. Niger have never reached the FIFA World Cup finals.

What is Niger's next target?

A first AFCON win and a knockout-stage appearance are the immediate goals.

Data sources & verification for Niger

Last verified 2026-09-08. Trophy dates are checked against official competition information and the relevant football confederation.

See Niger's full Waiting Room profile and live tournament counter.

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By TrophyDrought Editorial Team · Published 2026-08-16 · Updated 2026-09-01