African Country Renames National Stadium in Honour of Late Pele

• Pele has been immortalized in Cape Verde as the country’s Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde has been renamed after the late legend
• The world woke up to the devastating news on December 29, that the football icon lost his battle with cancer
• FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier urged countries around the world to name a stadium after the icon

Cape Verde has renamed the 15,000-seater Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, located just outside the capital Praia, after late Brazilian legend Pele.

This was disclosed by the country’s prime minister after the world’s football governing body FIFA made a request to all countries around the globe.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier made a clarion call to countries to each name a stadium after Pele in honour of the departed Brazilian icon.

Pele passed away aged 82 after a long battle with cancer just before the end of 2022. His death has left the football landscape and the world at large crestfallen.

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Cape Verde’s Prime Minister Ulisses Correira e Silva wrote on Facebook:

"As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as "Pele Stadium", in an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world.

"With the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pele, who soon became a planetary figure, an icon of the masses showing that sport has the power to unite the world, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him," added Mr Silva in a statement that stressed the importance of Pele to Portuguese-speaking countries like Cape Verde.

"Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.

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"Pele was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations."

Pele’s daughter writes touching tribute

Sports Brief earlier reported that Kely Nascimento has paid a heartwarming tribute to his father, Edson Arantes do Nascimento affectionately called Pele following his death.

Kely Nascimento had been providing regular updates on her father throughout the month with the world learning of his ill health, before his death was confirmed.

Following the passing of his dad, Kely took to her Instagram handle to pay a touching tribute to the football icon, who lost his battle with cancer on Thursday, December 29.