Crossword Genius

Country's state, say, during rising (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nigeria

'country's' is the definition.
(Nigeria is an example)

'state say during rising' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'air' (air is a kind of state**).
'say' becomes 'eg'.
'during' becomes 'in' (I've seen this in other clues).
'rising' says the letters should be written in reverse (going up in a down clue).
'air'+'eg'+'in'='airegin'
'airegin' back-to-front is 'NIGERIA'.

(Other definitions for nigeria that I've seen before include "Republic in West Africa" , "West African nation" , "West African state" , "African country, capital Abuja" , "In rage I turn to this country" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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