The tiny African nation Niger has defied odds to make their maiden appearance in a FIFA competition finals.
The west Africans pipped North Korea 1-0 in their opening Group D game of the ongoing U-17 World Cup. European champions Spain handed them a 4-0 drubbing in their second game in Kochi on Tuesday.
However, Niger, coached by former national captain Ismalia Tiemoko, have put up a gritty display despite the financial crunch back home. The country's soccer fraternity was struggling to find a sponsor for their junior team before Airtel Niger, an African subsidiary of Bharti Airtel Limited, the Delhi-based global telecom service providers, came to their rescue.
The sponsorship arrangement provided them with a lifeline as Niger had withdrawn from a number of major tournaments in the past due to constant financial troubles.
The Junior Menas have been making rapid strides in the past couple of years. They made it to the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals for the first time and eliminated the previous edition's champions Nigeria in the African qualifiers.
Niger meet Brazil in their final group game in Goa on Friday. A draw may take them to the round of 16.
Read more: FIFA U-17 World Cup | FIFA U-17 World Cup: Ruiz on song as Spain thrash Niger