LONDON, June 8: Nigeria and Morocco became the first countries to clinch berths in next year's World Cup finals, both earning victories yesterday to begin the final road to France '98.

Sunday Olise, Emmanuel Amunike and Wilson Oruma each scored for Nigeria in a 3-0 victory over Kenya while Khalid Raghib's 77th-minute tally lifted Morocco past Ghana 1-0.

Defending champion Brazil and host France automatically qualify for the 32-nation tournament, which starts on June 10, 1998.

Nigeria (4-1-0), which won last year's Olympic soccer tournament, leads Africa Group One with 13 points, followed by Kenya (2-1-2) with seven and Guinea (2-0-2) with six. Morocco improved to 4-1-0 and seven points in Group Five, seven points ahead of Ghana (1-3-1) with one game remaining.

In other games yesterday, Belgium drew into a virtual tie for the Netherlands atop European Group Seven with a 6-0 victory over San Marino, Ukraine stayed atop European Group Nine by holding Germany to a 0-0 draw, Portugal moved right behind them with a 2-0 victory over Albania; Macedonia beat Iceland 1-0 but closed only within five points back of Romania in European Group Eight, and Georgia beat Moldova 2-0 in European Group Two.

Ukraine 0, Germany 0

In Kiev, Germany threatened a few times in the first five minutes, but then settled back as Ukraine went on the offensive, bolstered by a crowd of some 60,000 at Olympic Stadium.

Led by forwards Andriy Shevchenko and Serhiy Rebrov, Ukraine poked at the German side throughout the first half but was unable to convert on several opportunities. The draw kept Ukraine atop the group with 14 points in eight games to 12 for Germany in six.

Portugal 2, Albania 0

In Oporto, Portugal, Joao Pinto scored in the 15th minute on a spectacular header off a cross from Dani Carvalho and Luis Figo added the second on a volley from outside the area in the 70th minute.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.