Under Harouna Doula Niger finished a poor run, ending in failure to qualify for the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola.
Despite a failed run for ACON2010, Niger hosted and won the UEMOA Tournament in November 2010, and followed up with their first ever qualification for the African Nations Championship in February 2011.
"[10] On 13 November, two days prior to Niger's last preparative friendly (against Botswana in Niamey) FENIFOOT announced it had recruited two "technicians" to aid Harouna Doula in the African Nations Cup.
Bako Adamou was to be assistant trainer and the French manager Rolland Courbis was named "Technical counselor" to the team.
"[11] On 6 January, Harouna Doula, along with team captain Lawali Idrissa, announced the selection of the 26 players who would attend the pre-tournament camp in Douala, Cameroon.