Nigeria

FOOTBALL IN NIGERIA The Nigerian Football Federation was created in 1945, and a domestic professional league started only just over a decade ago. Nonetheless, with over 200 professional players around the world and drawing from Africa’s largest population, Nigeria has built up an impressive result sheet. It will be hoping to progress beyond the second round unlike both of its previous appearances at the World Cup in 1994 and 1998. It will, however, be wary until the last given it missed out on a quarter final berth in 1994 with only 2 minutes to go in its match against Italy. STATE OF THE ECONOMY While Nigeria’s economic potential matches that of its footballers, its actual performance stands in stark contrast. Nigeria has the 6th largest oil export quota in OPEC. Always competitive, however, it overproduces significantly and thus edges ahead ofKuwait to have the 5th largest actual exports in OPEC (after Saudi Arabia, Iran,Venezuela, Iraq, andUAE).Themacrosituation as a whole is, however, thoroughly unimpressive. Fiscal revenues in 2001 were spent in a haphazard fashion rather than set aside for periods of lower oil prices, so there is no cushion for this year. Relatedly, monetary edge higher in 2002. At least reserves have been doing better–they rose from $5.4bn in 1999 to $9.4bn in 2000 and $10.4bn in 2001 on the back of oil exports. If oil prices in 2002 average $18/bbl, some of these gains in Nigeria’s FX reserves are likely to be eroded this year. Even progress on structural reforms has slipped of late. The privatization agency has divested holdings in banks, cement producers, and oilmarketing companies, moved relatively quickly in telecoms, and had been making modest progress in reforming the power company NEPA, Nigerian Airways, and the oil sector. Although far from perfect, thiswas an improvement on past performance. More recently, however, the winning bidder for NITELwas unable to pay up, and an enquiry into the whole bid was opened in Parliament. At least one bottleneck in communications will be removed, however, as FIFA has delivered on its promise of free television coverage to all African countries (except South Africa)! STATE OF THE NATION Political tensions in Nigeria have increased from an already-worrying base this year, and more than 10,000 are reported to have died in ethnic violence during President Obasanjo’s rule. Disputes over the electoral law, the December assassination of Justice Minister Bola Ige, and sharp rises in fuel prices were all sources of discontent.With federal, state and local elections on the horizon, this is, tragically, only likely to worsen. Most recently, 100 died in fighting over fishing rights in central Nigeria in the second week of January. The first week of January had already seen over 50 killed in fighting between Mambilla and Fulani groups in the northeast over land rights. This followed fighting in late December, when similar numbers died. Although the depressing reality is that these groups have been fighting for at least 80 years, the frequency of such violence seems to be on the increase. The ‘Super Eagles’ have been widely seen as the best World Cup prospects from Africa. They have the experience and flair to progress beyond the initial stages of the tournament. Nigeria came to prominenceas winners of the African NationsCupin 1994 and as Olympic champions in 1996. Qualification proved surprisingly difficult, however, requiring Ghana to beat their closest rivals Liberia. Moreover, Nigeria disappointed in the recent African Nations Cup, losing to Senegal at the semi-final stage. The team is full of stylish skilful players, including Oliseh, Okocha and Kanu, and will be a match for anybody on their day. In particular, Okocha is famous for one of the most amazing goals in the history of the Bundesliga, beating the entire defence single-handedly to score theGoalof theYear in 1993.Theteam’s progress to the second phase will be difficult, as they are in the same draw as Argentina, England and Sweden, probably the toughest of the first round groups. Previous Appearances: 2 1994 and 1998