Sports

Pele’s Funeral: Burial To Take Place In Hometown, To Be Held At Santos Stadium

Published

3 years ago

December 30, 2022

Editor

Pele’s funeral will take place inside the Santos stadium next week Monday January 2 and Tuesday January 3rd, the Brazilian club said, when fans will be able to pay their final respects to the football legend.

The Brazilian legend, whose full name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died Thursday at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer, sparking an outpouring of tributes from around the world.

His body will go straight from the Albert Einstein Hospital to Estádio Urbano Caldeira in Vila Belmiro at dawn on Monday and the coffin will be placed in the centre of the pitch. The public wake is expected to begin at 10am.

The ceremony will continue until 10am on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, when the parade will take place through the streets of Santos.

Pele died at the age of 82 following a long battle with colon cancer. He had been in hospital since late last month.

Pele had a colon tumour removed in September 2021. Neither his family nor the hospital have said whether it had spread to other organs. He returned to the Albert Einstein hospital on November 29 with Covid-19 and a respiratory infection.

Daughter Kely Nascimento confirmed his passing with a social media post that said: ‘Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.’

There was a message to the three million followers on Pele’s official Twitter account, too: ‘Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.’

In his playing career, he scored 1,282 goals in 1,366 games, which included 77 in 92 appearances for his country.

Pele led Brazil to World Cup victory in 1958, 1962, and 1970 and remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals.

Sports

Full List Of Nominees For CAF Awards 2025 Unveiled

Published

3 months ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the complete list of nominees for the 2025 CAF Awards, set to take place later this year.

The CAF aawards celebrates outstanding performances and achievements across African football, recognising excellence among players, coaches, clubs, and national teams in both the men’s and women’s categories.

This year’s shortlist features a blend of experienced stars and emerging talents who have made remarkable contributions to African football over the past season.

Nigerian players such as Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Esther Okoronkwo headline the women’s nominations, while Nigerian clubs and coaches also appear in various categories — reflecting the country’s continued influence in African football.

Below is the full list of nominees in the women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2025:

CAF Awards: Women’s Player of the Year

Portia Boakye
Tabitha Chawinga
Temwa Chawinga
Ghizlane Chebbak
Mama Diop
Rasheedat Ajibade
Esther Okoronkwo
Sanaa Mssoudy
Barba Banda
Racheal Kundananji

Women’s Club of the Year

Gaborone United
ASEC Mimosas
TP Mazembe
USFAS Bamako
ASFAR
DE Agosto
Mamelodi Sundowns
Bayelsa Queens FC
Aigles De La Medina
JKT Queens

Women’s National Team of the Year

Cameroon U17
Ghana
Ivory Coast U17
Mali
Morocco
Nigeria U17
Nigeria
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia U17

Women’s Young Player of the Year

Habiba Essam
Habiba Sabry
Stella Nyamekye
Doha El Madani
Winfrida Gerald
Ester Maseke Marwa
Adji Ndiaye
Shakirat Moshood
Mercy Chipasula
Ruth Mukoma

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year

Chloe N’Gazi
Sedilame Boseja
Fideline Ngoy
Habiba Emad
Chiamaka Nnadozie
Khadija Er-Rmichi
Fatoumata Karentao
Cynthia Konlan
Adji Ndiaye
Andile Dlamini

Coach of the Year (Women)

Adelaide Koudougnon
Siaka Gigi Traore
Lamia Boumehdi
Genoveva Anonman
Justine Madugu
Bankole Olowookere
Jorge Vilda
Kim Bjorkegren
Desiree Ellis
Carol Kanyemba

Sports

Nigerian-Born Benin Republic Footballer, Razak Omotoyossi Dies At 39

Published

5 months ago

August 19, 2025

Editor

Nigerian-born Beninese international Razak Omotoyossi has passed away at the age of 39, though the cause of death has not yet been revealed.

His death was confirmed on Tuesday, August 19, by his former Swedish club, Helsingborgs IF.

In a post on X (Formerly Twitter), the club wrote: “Helsingborgs IF is in mourning.

“We have been informed that our former player Razak Omotoyossi has passed away at the age of 39. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

Omotoyossi, who switched nationality to represent Benin after starting his career in the Nigerian league, became one of the country’s most celebrated footballers.

He scored 21 goals in 55 international appearances, placing him among Benin’s all-time top scorers.

He is fondly remembered for his performance during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where he netted all four goals in Benin’s 4-1 victory over Togo and finished as joint top scorer of the campaign alongside Samuel Eto’o.

He also made history as the first player to score for Benin at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

At club level, Omotoyossi had a career spanning Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with stints in South Africa, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Moldova, Sweden, and France.

He particularly excelled at Helsingborgs IF in Sweden, where he featured in the UEFA Champions League before moving to French side FC Metz.