World Cup (Q): Niger coach Badou says no easy team in Africa

Niger team coach Ezzaki Badou has sent a fresh reminder to all those who view some teams in Africa as being small.

The Moroccan told the press in Zambia on Sunday that there are no easy opponents in African football, after overcoming the Chipolopolo 1-0.

There’s a great subplot in the MOROCCO-NIGER match today ✨

Niger’s manager is Ezzaki Badou – a legendary figure of Moroccan football. He was the manager of Morocco 🇲🇦 the last time they played in an AFCON final (2004). Current Morocco manager Walid Regragui played in that… pic.twitter.com/xM5rTGbUbm

— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) September 5, 2025

The West Africans showed their pedigree as Daniel Sosah scored the only goal of the game for the visitors to stun Avram Grant’s men in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Reflecting on the victory, Badou is quoted as saying: “Now football is changing, there is no easy team in Africa.”

Why Badou believes Niger proved they are no pushovers

The coach believes the Menas have already shown that they are not pushers over in a group some saw as of death.

“In the qualifiers of the Africa Cup 2025, Niger showed that the team is coming, we beat Sudan 4 – 0, we beat Ghana in Ghana 2 – 1 and assured all the people that this is not the Niger that people thought before,” he is quoted as saying by Bolanews.

Badou then reminded the African football fraternity against underrating any opposition.

“Even when we were in the group of Morocco…we took our chances. We should believe to [having fought] fight with Tanzania, Morocco and Zambia in that group and we did well,” he added.

The loss ended Chipolopolo’s World Cup qualification campaign and finish closer to Morocco who have sealed their ticket.

Niger lie six points behind the Atlas Lions after having played eight games and stand a chance to advance to the play-offs from Group E.