AS FAN

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = AS FAN

| image = AS FAN (logo).png

| fullname = Association Sportive des Forces Armées Nigériennes

| nickname =

| founded =

| ground = Stade du Camp Bagagi Iya
Niamey, Niger

| capacity = 5,000

| chairman = Colonel Djibrilla Hima Hamidou "Pélé"

| manager =

| league = Niger Premier League

| season = 2023–24

| position = 2nd

| pattern_la1 =

| pattern_b1 =

| pattern_ra1 =

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_so1 =

| leftarm1 = FFFF00

| body1 = FFFF00

| rightarm1 = FFFF00

| shorts1 = 000000

| socks1 = 000000

| pattern_la2 =

| pattern_b2 =

| pattern_ra2 =

| pattern_sh2 =

| pattern_so2 =

| leftarm2 = 008000

| body2 = 008000

| rightarm2 = 008000

| shorts2 = FFFFFF

| socks2 = FFFFFF

}}

Association Sportive des Forces Armées Nigériennes, known simply AS FAN, is a Nigerien professional football club based in Niamey, which is operated by the Nigerien Armed Forces (the FAN). They play at the stade du camp Bagagi Iya, a small stadium in one of Niamey's military bases, although larger matches are played at the stade Général Seyni Kountché. Their current club president is Army Lieutenant Colonel Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (called Colonel "Pélé").

History

ASFAN has won the Niger League Championship (today's Niger Premier League) only twice: in 1971 and 1975.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nigerchamp.html Niger – List of Champions] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024020051/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nigerchamp.html |date=October 24, 2008 }}. RSSSF Foundation. Retrieved 2009-02-01

The club has reached the Coupe Nationale of Niger final only once: defeating Liberté FC 3–1 on 3 August 1995.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nigercuphist.html Niger – List of Cup Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625182321/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nigercuphist.html |date=2024-06-25 }}. RSSSF Foundation. Retrieved 2009-02-01 From this win they qualified for the 1996 Coupe de l'Union des fédérations de football ouest-africaines (UFOA Cup). Reaching the final on 8 December 1996, ASFAN defeated East End Lions from Freetown, Sierra Leone, making them the only Nigerien football club to have won an international competition.[http://www.french.xinhuanet.com/french/2009-01/31/content_807788.htm Coupe de la CAF : l'ASFAN du Niger en terre gabonaise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718102221/http://www.french.xinhuanet.com/french/2009-01/31/content_807788.htm |date=2011-07-18 }}. Xinhua. 2009-01-31.

In 2009 they played in the Niger Premier League. They have entered the top national league every year since 2001, when they were one of fourteen clubs to boycott the championship over the relegation of Zumunta AC.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/niger01.html Niger – 2001] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602130842/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/niger01.html |date=June 2, 2009 }}. RSSSF Foundation. Retrieved 2009-02-01 In 2004 the championship was canceled.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/niger04.html Niger – 2004] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005143029/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/niger04.html |date=October 5, 2008 }}. RSSSF Foundation. Retrieved 2009-02-01

Notable former players include Mâazou Ouwo, transferred in January 2008 to Sporting Lokeren in Belgium, who in 2009 moved to CSKA Moscow.[http://www.planeteafrique.com/Niger/index.asp?affiche=News_Display_R.asp&ArticleID=5014&s=Republicain&rub=Sport TRANSFERT DE MÂAZOU OUWO AU CSKA DE MOSCOU La réaction du Colonel Djibrilla Hima Hamidou dit Pélé]. Republican (Niger). 14 January 2009 ASFAN reportedly received 327 million FCFA for 2008 transfer fees.[http://www.sensports.com/index.php?action=breve&id_article=1183898 AS FAN de Niamey attend près de 327 millions FCFA du transfert d’un de ses joueurs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004114116/http://www.sensports.com/index.php?action=breve&id_article=1183898 |date=2011-10-04 }}. APA News. 15 January 2009.

In late 2008, they were chosen to compete in the 2009 African Confederation Cup in place of AS Police, who won both the Cup and League in 2008. As no system was previously in place, the Nigerien Football Federation chose 2008 League runners up ASFAN over Akokana Arlit, 2008 Cup finalists.[http://www.planeteafrique.com/Niger/Index.asp?affiche=News_Display_R.asp&articleid=4934&rub=Sport&s=Republicain COUPE DE LA CONFÉDÉRATION L’ASFAN pressentie pour représenter le Niger]. Republicain (Niger). 6 novembre 2008