(Adds naira) Ghana's cedi may weaken further and breach 2.80 to the dollar next week, while Kenya and Tanzania's currencies may come under pressure due to dollar demand from importers.

Nigeria's naira has firmed this week, partly supported by dollar inflows from energy companies, but is expected to buckle under increased demand for the greenback next week.

NIGERIA

The naira NGN= was last quoted at 161.02 to the dollar at 1651, slightly firmer than its previous close at 161.57.

Traders said the local unit of Total had sold currency worth

$74 million into the market, while Eni injected $9 million, Addax $7 million and Royal Dutch Shell sold an undisclosed amount, with inflows expected from other oil firms.

"We however see a slight depreciation of the naira towards the middle of next week because of possible increase in demand by importers and a slowdown in dollar supply," one dealer said.

GHANA

Ghana's cedi GHS= will remain under selling pressure next week from a squeeze on dollars that has been heightened by unmet demand for dollars from local importers, analysts said.

The cedi has weakened 18.7 percent against the greenback since January. The USD/GHS traded at 2.7900 at midday on Thursday.

"Nothing has changed and we expect it to remain under serious pressure on the market with a high possibility of breaching the 2.80 threshold," Yaw Adu-Koranteng of the Accra-based NDK Asset Management firm said.

The Bank of Ghana is issuing 400 million cedis worth of three-year government bonds on Thursday to partly roll over maturing debts and also to finance projects.

The auction, which is open to offshore investors, will be the second this year. A similar issue in February attracted a yield of 23 percent, the highest in three years.

KENYA

Importer dollar demand will keep pressure on Kenya's shilling KES= , though the central bank's mopping up of excess liquidity should offer some relief.

At 0940 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 86.95/87.05 against last Thursday's close of 86.85/95.

"As ... importers fulfil their demand, the shilling could come under pressure. So it all depends on the aggressiveness of the central bank," said a senior trader at one commercial bank.

The central bank has repeatedly absorbed liquidity from the money market, making it more expensive to hold onto long dollar positions and shoring up the shilling. The local currency is 0.42 percent weaker against the dollar since the start of 2014.

UGANDA

Tighter liquidity in the money market and subdued dollar demand from corporate clients will support Uganda's shilling

UGX= in the week ahead.

Leading commercial banks on Thursday quoted the shilling at 2,510/2,520, a touch weaker than last Thursday's close of 2,506/2,516.

"There's a general scarcity of shillings in the interbank which I think will keep the (local) unit in a firm position," said Ahmed Kalule, a trader at Bank of Africa. "Absence of demand from corporate players should also give extra support."

Kalule said overnight and one-week funds in the interbank market were changing hands at 9 percent and 12 percent, compared with 8 and 11 percent respectively a week ago.

TANZANIA

The Tanzanian shilling TZS= will hold steady in the coming sessions, though it may feel pressure from oil-sector dollar demand.

Commercial banks in east Africa's second-biggest economy quoted the shilling at 1,638/1,648 to the dollar on Thursday, barely moved from last week's 1,636/1,641.

"There is demand for dollars in the market, but we expect the shilling to remain stable at current levels over the next week," said Theopistar Mnale, a trader at TIB Development Bank.

"We usually witness some dividend payments after the end of the first quarter. However, we are yet to see any significant boost on the local currency."

Market participants said they expected the shilling to trade in a 1,630-1,640 range over the coming days.

ZAMBIA

The kwacha ZMW= is likely to remain range-bound next week. The supply of dollars is expected to match importer demand as companies convert dollars to pay month-end obligations.

At 1228 GMT on Thursday, commercial banks quoted the currency of Africa's second-largest copper producer at 6.2100 per dollar from 6.1700 a week ago.

Traders said the kwacha was expected to remain between 6.2000 and 6.3000 per dollar.

"We have the usual demand for dollars from importers but this is likely to be evened out because companies need to pay salaries and other month-end obligations in kwacha," one commercial bank trader said.

(Reporting by George Obulutsa, Elias Biryabarema, Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala, Kwasi Kpodo, Chris Mfula; and Oludare Mayowa; Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom; Editing by Larry King)

((george.obulutsa@thomsonreuters.com)(Tel: +254 20 221 4608)(Reuters Messaging: george.obulutsa.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AFRICA CURRENCY/