Brazil declares national mourning for late football legend Zagallo - Newstrends
Connect with us

Sports

Brazil declares national mourning for late football legend Zagallo

Published

on

National mourning in Brazil for late football legend Zagallo

 

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has declared a three-day national mourning for a four-time World Cup-winning football legend, Mario Zagallo.

This was declared on Saturday, a day after his death at the age of 92.

Zagallo played alongside Pele in Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup-winning teams and later won the trophy as a coach.

He died on Friday of multiple organ failure, said the Barra D’Or hospital in Rio de Janeiro, where he had been treated for a series of health problems in recent months.

Brazilian President Lula led a flood of tributes to the man known as the “Old Wolf,” who coached Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning side starring Pele — considered by many the greatest team in history — and served as assistant coach when the “Selecao” repeated the feat in 1994.

“He was one of the greatest football players and coaches of all time,” Lula said in a statement.

“Courageous, passionate… (he) leaves a lesson of love, dedication and the will to overcome for our country — and for world football.”

Messages also poured in from around the football world.

“Zagallo’s influence on football, and Brazilian football in particular, is supreme,” said FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.

Infantino called the diminutive left winger a “tactical genius,” underlining his role in four of football powerhouse Brazil’s five World Cup titles — more than anyone in history.

“He will be remembered as the Godfather of Brazilian football and his presence will be sorely missed… The story of the FIFA World Cup cannot be told without Mario Zagallo,” Infantino said.

The only other men to win the World Cup as both player and coach are Franz Beckenbauer of Germany (1974 and 1990) and Didier Deschamps of France (1998 and 2018).

Current and former players also paid their respects include Brazilian World Cup winners Ronaldinho, Romario, Bebeto, Taffarel and Cafu.

“Thank you for everything, Professor!!! Rest in peace,” Ronaldinho posted on Instagram, alongside a photo of him and Zagallo.

“He’s as important as Pele,” Romario told journalists.

“Today is a sad day for football.”

“Thank you for everything, LEGEND,” current Brazil and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said a minute’s silence for Zagallo would be held at upcoming matches.

Many of Brazil’s top-flight clubs also paid tribute, including ones where Zagallo played or coached, such as Rio de Janeiro teams Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco.

Other Activities

A public wake for Zagallo will be held from 9:30 am (1230 GMT) Sunday at CBF headquarters in Rio, officials said, followed by a burial at the Sao Joao Batista cemetery, the final resting place of some of Brazil’s most famous citizens.

Beloved in Brazil for both his football heroics and outsize personality, Zagallo is remembered for his warm humor, deep superstition — he swore by the number 13 — and combative passion for the game.

His death comes at a difficult moment in Brazilian football, which is still mourning the loss of Pele just over a year ago.

Sports

X Restored After Global Outage Disrupts Millions Worldwide

Published

on

X-logo

X Restored After Global Outage Disrupts Millions Worldwide

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has been fully restored after a global outage that left millions of users unable to access the service across several countries on Monday.

The disruption, which began earlier in the day, affected users in the United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria, India, and parts of Europe and Asia, with widespread complaints of blank timelines, login failures, error messages, and inability to post or refresh feeds. Both the mobile application and web version of the platform were impacted.

Online outage-tracking platforms recorded a sharp spike in user complaints, confirming that the issue was global rather than country-specific. Many users reported seeing messages such as “Something went wrong” while attempting to access their accounts.

After roughly two hours of downtime, services were gradually restored, with users regaining access to timelines, posts, messages, and other core features. By mid-afternoon GMT, functionality had largely returned to normal worldwide.

READ ALSO:

While the platform confirmed restoration through improved service performance, X did not issue an official explanation for the outage. There was also no immediate public statement from the company’s owner, Elon Musk, regarding the cause of the disruption.

Industry observers described the incident as an international technical failure, stressing that it was not linked to government restrictions or localized internet shutdowns. The outage adds to a growing list of service disruptions experienced by the platform in recent months, raising renewed concerns about platform stability and infrastructure resilience.

X remains one of the world’s most influential social media platforms, widely used for breaking news, public discourse, business communication, and real-time updates, making the outage particularly disruptive for users and organizations that rely on it for timely information.

X Restored After Global Outage Disrupts Millions Worldwide

Continue Reading

Sports

CAF Confirms 2027 AFCON Dates, Reveals Host Cities, Stadiums Across East Africa

Published

on

Confederation of African Football (CAF)

 CAF Confirms 2027 AFCON Dates, Reveals Host Cities, Stadiums Across East Africa

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take place from 19 June to 18 July 2027, reaffirming plans for the tournament to be hosted in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda — a historic first for three nations to co‑organise Africa’s premier international football competition. The competition will feature 24 teams, with automatic qualification for the host nations and qualifiers beginning in March 2026. (Wikipedia)

CAF President Patrice Motsepe stressed confidence in the readiness of the three host countries to deliver a high‑quality event, dismissing earlier doubts over infrastructure and logistical challenges. (kenyanews.go.ke)

Planned Host Cities and Stadiums

The tournament will be played across 10 cities and up to 12 stadiums spread among the three hosts, combining existing venues with newly built or upgraded facilities to meet CAF specifications. (Wikipedia)

Kenya

  • Talanta Sports Stadium — Nairobi: A new 60,000‑seat stadium expected to host the opening ceremony and several high‑profile matches, including potentially the tournament final. (kenyanews.go.ke)
  • Moi International Sports Centre — Kasarani, Nairobi: Existing large venue (approx. 55,000 capacity) undergoing final upgrades ahead of AFCON. (kenyanews.go.ke)
  • Nyayo National Stadium — Nairobi: 30,000 seats, set to host group matches and key fixtures. (kenyanews.go.ke)
  • Bukhungu Stadium — Kakamega and Kipchoge Keino Stadium — Eldoret: Additional venues set to host group games, expanding Kenya’s footprint in the tournament. (kenyanews.go.ke)

READ ALSO:

Tanzania

  • Benjamin Mkapa Stadium — Dar es Salaam: A 60,000‑seat national stadium likely to host major matches. (Daily News)
  • Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium — Arusha: A new 30,000‑seat facility under construction. (Wikipedia)
  • Dodoma Stadium — Dodoma: Another new stadium planned to host AFCON fixtures. (Daily News)
  • Amaan Stadium — Zanzibar: A revitalised 15,000‑seat venue that will feature fixtures and fan experiences. (Daily News)

Uganda

  • Mandela National Stadium — Kampala: A major multi‑purpose venue with a capacity of over 45,000 expected to host key games. (Daily News)
  • Hoima City Stadium — Hoima: Newly completed 20,000‑seat stadium ready for AFCON matches. (Wikipedia)
  • Akii Bua Stadium — Lira: Another new 20,000‑seat venue helping spread the tournament across regions. (Wikipedia)

These venues reflect a significant investment in football infrastructure across East Africa and support CAF’s aspiration to deliver a memorable continental showcase. (kenyanews.go.ke)

Preparations are being coordinated closely between CAF and the hosts, with infrastructure upgrades, access roads, security systems, accommodation and transport logistics high on the agenda as the region gears up for its biggest sporting event in decades. (kenyanews.go.ke)

The 2027 AFCON promises not just a festival of African football but also a legacy of improved stadiums and facilities, with East Africa firmly on the continental sporting map. (kenyanews.go.ke)

CAF Confirms 2027 AFCON Dates, Reveals Host Cities, Stadiums Across East Africa

Continue Reading

Sports

Ronaldo Returns From Absence to Score in Al‑Nassr’s 2‑0 Win Over Al‑Fateh

Published

on

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo Returns From Absence to Score in Al‑Nassr’s 2‑0 Win Over Al‑Fateh

Cristiano Ronaldo marked a dramatic comeback for Al‑Nassr on Saturday, scoring early to help his side secure a 2‑0 win over Al‑Fateh in the Saudi Pro League — his first start since returning from a high‑profile absence. (Soccer News)

Ronaldo, 41, had been absent for three league matches amid reported disagreements with the club and dissatisfaction over how it was being run under the Public Investment Fund, which also owns other Saudi clubs. Media reports said the star was unhappy that rivals backed by the fund, particularly Al‑Hilal, were able to strengthen their squads — including signing Karim Benzema — while Al‑Nassr’s activity in the January transfer window was more limited. (Sky Sports)

On Saturday at the Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Stadium, Ronaldo wasted no time making an impact. In the 18th minute, he met a sharp cross and finished coolly to open the scoring — his 962nd career goal, edging him closer to the historic 1,000‑goal mark. (beIN SPORTS)

READ ALSO:

Al‑Nassr controlled the match from there, and Ayman Yahya doubled the lead in the 78th minute to secure all three points and maintain pressure at the top of the league standings. With the win, Al‑Nassr strengthened their bid for the title, sitting one point behind Al‑Hilal. (Gulf News)

The goal was a timely reminder of Ronaldo’s enduring class, extending his remarkable scoring streak across 24 consecutive calendar years and underscoring his value even at an advanced age for an elite forward. (Gulf News)

Ronaldo’s absence in the past weeks sparked speculation about his future at Al‑Nassr, with some reports suggesting that unresolved issues over transfers and squad resources may have prompted his protest. The Saudi Pro League responded at the time by emphasising that “no individual, however significant, determines decisions beyond their own club,” amid discussion about the star’s dissatisfaction. (Reddit)

His return and goal, however, have eased tensions for now, with fans celebrating his leadership and contribution as Al‑Nassr chase silverware and league success. (The National)

Ronaldo Returns From Absence to Score in Al‑Nassr’s 2‑0 Win Over Al‑Fateh

Continue Reading
HostArmada Affordable Cloud SSD Shared Hosting
HostArmada - Affordable Cloud SSD Web Hosting

Trending