DATE=MAY 13, 2002

TYPE=SPORTS FEATURE

TITLE=WORLD CUP TEAMS/NIGERIA

NUMBER=2-289753

BYLINE=JIM STEVENSON

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Our series profiling each of the 32 nations playing in the World Cup football (soccer) finals in South Korea and Japan continues with Nigeria, a team that played well four years ago in France. But as V-O-A's Jim Stevenson reports, Nigeria now appears to be somewhat unstable as it travels to Asia.

TEXT: Nigeria is among the most respected football teams in Africa. The team known as the "Super Eagles" showed its potential at the last two World Cup finals after easing through the first round. But both times, the team quickly imploded in the knockout stage.

Nigeria is making its third successive World Cup finals appearance, and many key players from 1998 are returning. But international football (soccer) commentator Derek Rae says frequent coaching changes have led to disarray.

// Rae act //

With Nigeria this time, it is all a bit confusing again. We have the political aspect creeping in with managers biting the dust with gay abandon (getting fired often). And who knows what team we will see. Who knows how the team will line up come the World Cup finals in the Far East.

// end act //

Nigeria has been drawn into what is considered the toughest group of the tournament. Rae says Nigeria will have a difficult time in Japan battling for one of the top two places in Group "F" with Argentina, England and Sweden.

// Rae act //

I think that the problem with Nigeria is the group. I think it is an awfully difficult group for them to get out of. We saw wonderful things from Nigeria in the group stage last time in France. But then they fell apart in the knockout stage. So they do have this tendency to self-destruct.

// end act //

Nigeria had to watch for a second successive time as African rival Cameroon won the continental championship last month. The Super Eagles reached the semifinals before losing (2-1) to Senegal. The team is hoping for some redemption at the World Cup, where Nigeria's best finish was ninth place in 1994. (signed)

NEB/SPTS/JIM/PARKE/MEM