Niger recorded a narrow 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier on Sunday.

The West Zone B first-leg match was played at the Stade Général-Seyni-Kountché in the capital city of Niger, Niamey.

Niger and their visitors, Ivory Coast were unable to break the deadlock in the first 40 minutes of the encounter.

The opening goal finally came in the 44th minute and it was Imrana Seyni, who netted to make it 1-0 to Niger.

However, Dosso Fabius had other ideas as he scored for Ivory Coast on the stroke of half-time.

The score was 1-1 between the Menas and the Elephants following a lively first-half.

Halidou Garba proved to be the hero for the home side as he found the back of the net for Niger in the 81st minute.

The Menas managed to contain the more fancied Elephants in the closing stages and Niger emerged 2-1 winners

Niger will welcome Ivory Coast in the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier on Sunday.

Kick-off is 18h00 CAT.

The West Zone B first-leg match will be played at the Stade Général-Seyni-Kountché in the capital city of Niger, Niamey.

The Menas have taken part in two CHAN finals. They participated in the 2011 and 2016 finals.

Niger made it to the quarter-finals in 2011, but they could not reach the knockout stages in 2016.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast have participated in three CHAN finals - missing out on one tournament since its inception in 2009.

The Elephants have reached the knockout stages once. They were defeated in the semi-finals in 2016.

Referee Juste Ephrem Zio, who is from Burkina Faso, will officiate the match between Niger and Ivory Coast.

The second-leg encounter will be played at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan, Ivory Coast next weekend.

The winner on aggregate between the two sides will advance to the finals which are sheduled to take place in Ken