Name: Matar Niang




Country: Senegal
Club: Amiens SC (1971-1972), A.C. Cambrésien (1972-1973)
Position: *CF
Side: RF/BS
Age: 27-29 years (20/01/1944)

Height: 175 cm
Weight: 72 kg


Attack: 81
Defence: 34
Balance: 77
Stamina: 76
Top Speed: 77
Acceleration: 80
Response: 81
Agility: 81
Dribble Accuracy: 83
Dribble Speed: 76
Short Pass Accuracy: 80
Short Pass Speed: 75
Long Pass Accuracy: 71
Long Pass Speed: 73
Shot Accuracy: 84
Shot Power: 77
Shot Technique: 78
Free Kick Accuracy: 60
Curling: 64
Header: 72
Jump: 76
Technique: 87
Aggression: 85
Mentality: 79
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 77

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 3
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Standard

CARDS:
S03 - 1-on-1 Finish

SPECIAL ABILITIES: 1-on-1 Scoring

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded


INFO:
Niang was a centre-forward, although some sources report that he also played as attacking midfielder. His career started in Senegal in the 1960s, playing for Espoirs de Dakar and ASC Diaraf. In 1966, he transferred to France where he played for La Ciotat, Aixoise, Amiens, Cambrésien, and Choletais, retiring in 1976. Nantes was interested in signing him in 1969 following a remarkable performance in a 1969 Coupe de France match. However, the transfer never happened and the striker never played higher than the French Second Division. Niang was a Senegal international player from mid-1960s to the early 1970s, but the number of caps and goals is unknown. He played at least 2 matches and scored not less than 2 goals for his country. He was Senegal's most important player in the team's first ever African Cup participation in 1965. He even scored twice against Ethiopia, one of the best teams in the continent during the 1960s. He tragically died in 1979 due to a heart attack.
Niang is considered one of the greatest centre forwards in Senegal's football history. He was also regarded as one of the three best players in Africa in the 1960s alongside the Ghanaian Osei Kofi and the Malian Salif Keïta. Niang was a genius in the field, far better than his teammates and opponents. He was phenomenal as he knew how to give the right pass or attempt to score. He knew how to do whatever he wanted with the ball thanks to innate class, talent and elegance. His technical skill was insulting for his opponents and his efficiency in front of the goal was excellent. However, he was also gifted with a strong personality and the ability to influence a match. He could easily lead his team to victory unless he decided to win the match by himself. Unfortunately, he wasn't too interested in international football, but he always accepted a call-up whenever the team needed him. He forfeited only during the 1968 African Cup qualifying campaign because he didn't like the change of format.