NIGERIA has applied to stage next year’s African Nation’s Cup finals, originally scheduled in Zimbabwe, a top Nigerian official said late Friday. “We have asked CAF (the Confederation of African Football) to host the 2000 Nations Cup” Chief of General Staff Vice Admiral Mike Akihgbe said at the draw for the World Youth Championship here. The CAF withdrew the hosting rights from Zimbabwe on the grounds that the country was not prepared. The body meets later this month in Conakry, Guinea, to decide the new host for the biennial competition. Nigeria last hosted the event in 1980.