The story reached Time in 2005, with an article from the famous magazine claiming that “Although diplomats and emissaries had tried in vain for two years to stop the fighting in what was then Africa's bloodiest civil war, the 1969 arrival in Nigeria of Brazilian soccer legend Pele brought a three-day ceasefire.”

When did Santos stop a war?

On January 26 of 1967, when Santos landed in Nigeria for their game against the Nigerian National Team, known as the Green Eagles, Nigeria's two warring factions agreed that a 48 hour ceasefire was in order.

When did football stop war?

WWI left a huge impact throughout the world. But football stopped the war on December 25, 1914 – only for a day!