President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the rest of the world leaders in mourning the death of Brazilian soccer legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele.
The football legend died on Thursday after battling a terminal illness.
Described as the world’s greatest-ever football player, Pele succumbed to death after suffering a debilitating bout of cancer.
He won three World Cups and scored over 1,281 goals, becoming the original football icon in a long career for which he was named the “Player of the Century” in the year 2000.
In a tribute to the football legend on behalf of all Nigerians, President Buhari said, “May he rest in peace. He led a good life and made a huge contribution to the development of global football in particular and world sport in general.
The statement which was signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu also noted that Pele had an enormous generosity of spirit and humility despite his greatness as a footballer and sportsman.
The Nigerian President said Pele also built bridges across nations, races and even religions.
“He was a UN Ambassador of goodwill. Pele is gone but the world will never forget him. RIP,” Buhari stated.
