Niger finally participated in the competition for the first time in 2012 after topping a qualifying group that included South Africa and Egypt.
In the 2000s, a handful of Nigerien internationals have played in Europe including Moussa Yahaya at Legia Warsaw in Poland and Ibrahim Tankary in Belgium's Jupiler League.
Moussa Narry, a Nigerien citizen but a Ghana international, played in the Netherlands and with AJ Auxerre and Le Mans FC of France.
Many sections of the Nigerien government, notably the police and armed forces, sponsor amateur clubs.
Mobbed by fans at every stop, Zidane delivered funds and toured projects both football- and development-related.