/ 12 March 1999

COMPETITION FOR ZIM OVER CAF CUP

GHANA, Morocco and Nigeria have applied to host the 2000 Nations Cup, the Confederation of African Football said on Friday. They will compete with original hosts Zimbabwe for the right to stage the 16-nation tournament from January 23 to February 13. The successful candidate will be named on Monday when CAF executives meet in Guinea. Ghana, who wants to stage matches in Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi and Obuasi, hosted the biennial tournament in 1963 and 1978, Morocco in 1988 and Nigeria in 1980. Zimbabwe, stripped of the event last month for failing to meet stadia and financial targets, won a second hearing following talks with CAF president, Issa Hayatou.