The government of Guinea-Bissau announced on Friday that a sports stadium in its second city, Bafata, had been renamed “Pele Stadium” in memory of the late Brazilian football hero.
The decision was reached during a cabinet meeting following a minute of silence in honor of Pele, who passed away on December 29 at age 82, according to a statement from the government.
The regional stadium can hold roughly 15,000 spectators. Bafata is roughly 150 kilometers east of Bissau’s city.
I am who I am today because of Nana Acheampong – Daddy Lumba
The stadium in Cape Verde’s capital city, Praia, was renamed the “Pele Stadium” on Wednesday by the country’s prime minister.
The two African countries changed their names in response to Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s request that each member country of the world football association name one of its stadiums after a star player.
Following Pele’s death, thousands of fans and football luminaries gathered to pay their respects at the stadium of the Brazilian team Santos, where he had played from 1956 until 1974.
Pele was laid to rest in a 200-square-meter (2150-square-foot) mausoleum in Santos’ vertical cemetery, where a large crowd of supporters paid their respects.