How Pelé Inspired Ceasefire During The Nigerian Civil War

By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 31, 2022

Unknown to many, football great, late Edson Arantes do Nascimento ‘Pelé’ momentarily inspired ceasefire at the peak of the Nigerian civil war.

At the peak of his fame, Pele was commended for inspiring a momentary ceasefire during the Nigerian civil war in the late sixties.

The football legend arrived in Nigeria with Santos FC during the Biafra civil war to play a couple of friendly matches with a selected Nigeria XI.

And Pele’s presence encouraged the government forces and the freedom fighters to agree to a pause in hostilities so that Pele’s Santos could play.

The infamous incident inspired the concept behind Santos’s third kit released a few months ago ahead of the 2022-2023 season.

Pelé passed away aged the age of 82 after years of battling colon cancer.

Born October 23, 1940, Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national team at 16.

He won six Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles, two Copa Libertadores trophies, and two Intercontinental Cup honours with Santos.

Pelé became the first and only player to date to win the FIFA World Cup three times, leading Brazil to lift the trophy in 1958, 1962, and 1972.

The former New York Cosmos star won numerous individual honours, including being named the Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee.

Pelé was elected Citizen of the World, by the United Nations in 1977 and at his death, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century.

He was for a long time without equal as the greatest football to ever played the beautiful game until his old rival and late friend Diego Maradona came into the picture.

Recently, the conversation about soccer’s greatest players has included Argentina’s great Lionel Messi and Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pele is believed to have scored more than 1000 goals in a career that spanned over twenty years.

Source Sporting Sun

Posted December 31, 2022


 

You may also like...
I could have fought Joshua for £100m —...

London can be stressful – Sanchez

Maradona Extends Contract As Coach Of Gimnasia

Mikel Obi back in England at Middlesbrough

Djokovic eases into Eastbourne final

Moses Simon completes Levante switch

 

Latest News Super Falcons unveil 10-star jersey ahead of WAFCON 2026 From Sporting Lisbon to Al Nassr: Ronaldo’s records so far WAFCON favourites Nigeria eye World Cup slot, record prize money Wikki Tourists administrator tasks players, coaches on NPFL return Golf: Port Harcourt to host Nigerian National Finals I’ve had enough, sprinter Onyah threatens to dump Nigeria Onyeka warns teammates ahead EPL opener The real money behind football’s biggest prizes Nigeria to host CAF General Assembly November Lessons from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals NSSF boss Joseph elected ISF Africa president Nigeria seek final spots at ITTF Africa Youth Champs

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (63,973 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,323 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,225 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,830 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,710 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,581 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,475 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,987 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,203 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,673 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,155 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,535 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media