FREDERICK, Md. – Former Frederick Community College student-athlete and current Mount St. Mary's men's soccer standout Bilal Hassane has earned a spot on the Niger National Team for the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Tournament.

Hassane, a native of Niamey, Niger, will represent his home country at the qualifying tournament, hoping to help Niger secure a berth to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Team Niger's group includes Tunisia, Egypt, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The teams play against each other in home-and-away round-robin format, with the group winner and runner-up earning qualifying bids to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Hassane, a Mount St. Mary's team captain in 2018, anchored the defensive unit throughout the season, helping the team secure shutout efforts in a win over VMI and a draw with Fairleigh Dickinson. The junior defender's penalty kick proved to be the game winner in the victory over VMI, which was the Mount's first win of the season.

FCC Accolades for Hassane
2015- All Region XX Division I 1st Team
2016- Helped lead Cougars to 14-4-1 record, MD JUCO Co-Championship and Region XX DI Tournament runner-up finish
2016- All Region XX Division I 1st Team
2016- All Maryland Juco 2nd Team

* Article provided by Frederick Athletics.