Niger’s Moussa Maazou has said that their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the tournament were very silm.

The Zulte Waregem striker spoke to Goal.com and expressed a great deal of pessimism over the Mena’s future at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after the team’s 2-0 loss to Gabon

After stopping defending champions Egypt and snatching the qualifying group’s ticket from South Africa for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Niger raised excitement back home for their historic qualification to the pan-African football tournament.

The Mena’s most influential player Moussa Maazou, who plays for Belgian side Zulte Waregem,  said  that Niger were unlikely to progress in the competition, judging by the quality of players and level of experience when juxtaposed with other teams in Group C.

“Gabon didn’t win because they were strong. They played a non-existent team. They met a cheap, weak and disorganised set up,” Maazou said. “And I’m afraid there could not be any improvement before our other games. We have the desire to play and the wish to win, but these are not enough.

“Their combination will bring nothing much. They are good managers, but the question is: where are the players to execute the instructions they give? Even [Jose] Mourinho can not force skill into the bones of a player who doesn’t have it there already,” he said.

Losing their second game against Tunisia will likely see them knocked out of the campaign, and that is what the striker feels will happen.

“Tunisia are a stronger team than Gabon, and they may likely want to seal their qualification into the next stage by winning their second game. I don’t see how we can withstand them, but we will accomplish our mission, even though our chances seem too slim.”