Liberia’s President George Weah led African football greats who shared tributes to Argentina’s football legend Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday aged 60.
President Weah described Maradona as a “legend and icon” whose “extraordinary story inspired millions”.
Former Cameroon star Roger Milla said he only shed a tear “because, for Diego, you don’t need to cry your eyes out. A tear says it all.”
“For me, he was an example for the youth. He was an example for Argentine football, and I think I’m just lost for words. He was one of the greatest football players, one of the greatest,” he said.
Former Nigeria captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, who marked Maradona in what turned out to be the Argentine’s last game for his country in the 1994 World Cup, said he was shocked by the news.
“It is not the time for it to be – it is somehow painful in way I can’t really explain. Playing against Diego helped my career in a way I can’t describe. It helped me a lot,” he said.
“Playing against him, you could always notice that he had something that no other player I had ever seen in my lifetime had. The way he touched the ball, he didn’t really touch it, it was like he was massaging the ball.”
Former Nigeria and Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu tweeted that Maradona’s “memory will live on forever” while former Zambian player and coach Kalusha Bwalya thanked Maradona for the “many wonderful memories”.
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