Nabil Neghiz takes charge of Niger ahead of CAN 2027

Niger have placed their national team in the hands of Algerian coach Nabil Neghiz as they seek to rebuild the Mena National and return to Africa’s leading tournament. The 58-year-old succeeds Morocco’s Badou Zaki and was appointed on 11 September 2026.

Neghiz’s immediate priority will be the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Niger have not reached the tournament finals since 2013, their second appearance at the competition. His wider task is to assemble a competitive side from players based in different leagues and prepare them within the limited time available to national teams.

Born in Jijel, Algeria, in 1967, Neghiz began coaching in the lower divisions of Algerian football before guiding Mouloudia de Kaous, Entente de Collo and CRB Aïn Fakroun to promotions. He later worked with WA Tlemcen, Olympique Médéa and several other Algerian clubs, including NA Hussein Dey, JS Saoura, ES Sétif, MC Alger and USM Khenchela.

His international background includes assistant roles with Algeria under Christian Gourcuff, Milovan Rajevac and Vladimir Petkovic. He briefly led the Fennecs in 2016, when a 2-0 win over Seychelles secured their qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He has also coached in Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Tunisia, including Ohod Medina, Mouloudia Oujda and Olympique Béja.