Crossword Genius

River spirit going to North Country (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nigeria

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

'river spirit going to north' is the wordplay.
'river' becomes 'niger' (Niger River is an example).
'spirit going' becomes 'ai' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to north' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up or 'northward').
'ai' back-to-front is 'ia'.
'niger'+'ia'='NIGERIA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nigeria that I've seen before include "West African nation" , "Possible home for African" , "former colony" , "part of Africa" , "West African state" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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