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Brazil football legend Pele dies at 82 after battling cancer

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Brazil football legend Pele dies at 82 after battling cancer

Brazil football legend Pele, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 82.

The former striker, who is the only player in history to win three World Cups, passed away at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo following a battle with cancer.

Pele, who is Brazil’s joint all-time top scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches, became an icon of the game after winning the World Cup in 1958 as a 17-year-old, netting twice in the final to defeat hosts Sweden.

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Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, to a poor family in Sao Paulo, won 1958, 1962, and 1970 World Cups with Brazil.

Injury restricted his contribution to Brazil’s triumph in 1962 in Chile but he was player of the tournament eight years later, as Brazil assembled one of the greatest sides of all time and lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in Mexico thanks to a 4-1 win over Italy in which Pele scored the opening goal.

Read Also: Pele to spend Christmas in hospital as cancer worsens

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That goal makes him one of only five players to have scored in two World Cup finals and, thanks to his exploits in 1958, he remains the youngest player to have netted a goal at the tournament.

In total, Pele scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances and also provided 10 assists – the most by any player in the history of the competition, and a reminder that he was much more than a goalscorer.

It was his spectacular scoring feats, though, that made him a Santos legend at the club level. Pele holds his hometown side’s all-time goal record and helped them to two Copa Libertadores titles and six Brazilian league crowns during a glittering 18-year spell with the club.

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Pele, who scored 1,281 goals in 1363 games for club and country during his career, ended his playing days at New York Cosmos and retired from football in 1977.

After retiring, Pele acted as an ambassador for football. In 2013, he was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur in recognition of his career and achievements.

In 2020, he was named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team, a greatest of all-time XI.

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Ajibade, Oshoala, Nnadozie Lead Super Falcons’ 24-Woman Squad for WAFCON

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Super Falcons’ Head Coach Justine Madugu has unveiled a 24-woman squad for Nigeria’s campaign at the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with star names Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Francisca Ordega, and Asisat Oshoala making the cut.

The squad announcement marks the beginning of the team’s march toward a record-extending 10th continental title, with the tournament set to take place from July 5 to 26 in Morocco.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a portion of the squad began training in Abuja on Thursday and will continue sessions on Friday and Saturday before departing for a final training camp in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday.

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Also included in the list are Saudi Arabia-based defender Ashleigh Plumptre, American fan favourite Michelle Alozie, veteran centre-back Osinachi Ohale, and midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, and Christy Ucheibe.

Home-based talents like goalkeeper Rachael Unachukwu and defenders Sikiratu Isah and Miracle Usani have also been called up, while midfield general Halimatu Ayinde returns to bolster the team’s engine room.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed friendly matches to sharpen the team ahead of their Group B fixtures against Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria. The Falcons will face Portugal in Lisbon on Monday and square off against the Black Queens of Ghana in Morocco on June 29.

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Full List of Super Falcons for 13th WAFCON Finals:

Goalkeepers:

  • Chiamaka Nnadozie (just finished contract with Paris FC, France)
  • Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
  • Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders:

  • Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)
  • Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy)
  • Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)
  • Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia)
  • Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons)
  • Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey)
  • Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)

Midfielders:

  • Rasheedat Ajibade (just finished contract with Atletico Madrid, Spain)
  • Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosenburg, Sweden)
  • Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity, USA)
  • Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France)
  • Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England)
  • Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Forwards:

  • Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia)
  • Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)
  • Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France)
  • Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada)
  • Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)
  • Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China)
  • Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA)

With high expectations and an experienced squad, the Super Falcons are poised to make a strong push for another continental crown in Morocco.

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Plumptre Joins Fight Against Child Trafficking as Mission 89 Ambassador

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Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre

Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has been named an ambassador for Mission 89, a global research and advocacy organization dedicated to combating child trafficking in sports.

The appointment, conveyed in a letter on Friday by Mission 89’s Executive Director, Lerina Bright, highlights the organization’s commitment to protecting young athletes and preserving the integrity of football.

Bright emphasized that the partnership with Plumptre comes at a crucial time as the sports industry grapples with rising challenges in safeguarding young talents from exploitation. She praised Plumptre’s dedication to social justice, noting that her influence will strengthen Mission 89’s efforts.

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“Her extensive experience at the highest levels of professional football, alongside her passionate advocacy for ethical practices, positions her as an exemplary representative for this vital cause,” Bright said.

She further stressed the urgency of tackling sports trafficking, calling for immediate action from stakeholders, including governments, advocates, sports leaders, professional athletes, and policymakers.

Plumptre, in her acceptance remarks, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, acknowledging that her experiences as a footballer would play a key role in her new position.

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“As a footballer, I have observed firsthand how aspirations can serve as both a source of hope and a potential vulnerability for young athletes,” she said.

“My experiences in professional sports have taught me that talent alone is insufficient; protection, education, and ethical pathways are vital components.”

The Leicester City defender described Mission 89 as more than just an organization, but a platform for reshaping the narrative around youth in football.

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“We are not merely preventing trafficking; we are reclaiming the true spirit of the game — a spirit characterized by opportunity, dignity, and hope,” she said.

Plumptre reaffirmed her commitment to using her platform to protect young players who see football as a means to a better future.

“Football has the potential to transform lives. However, it is imperative that we ensure this transformation is both positive and secure,” she added.

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 Wike to honour FCT athletes, pledges support for sports

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Wike visits scene of collapsed building, insists structures without approval will go down

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to honour victorious athletes that recently represented the FCT in various sporting events.

Wike made the pledge in a statement from the FCT sports department on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that a reception, scheduled for Thursday, is in recognition of athletes that represented the FCT at the 2022 National Sports Festival, the 7th and 8th National Youth Games.

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According to him, the honour is to appreciate the athletes for their acts of sacrifice, patriotism and determination that have brought glory to the FCT.

“We are committed to the development of sports in the FCT, and we will continue to create the enabling environment for sports to thrive.

“This is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s focus to engage youths to help discover their potentials and empower them to be better,” he said.

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