The Nigerian football community is in deep mourning following the death of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, who passed away at the age of 61 in Lagos after a brief illness.
Rufai, fondly known as "Dodo Mayana," was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments and played a pivotal role in the country’s golden era of football. He died around 6 a.m. on Thursday at a hospital in Lagos, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
“This is really, really shocking,” said Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in Abuja. “Peter Rufai dead? What happened? I am perplexed. We did not even know that he had been ill. We earnestly pray to the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest, and to comfort his loved ones and the entire Nigerian football family.”
Rufai’s death was confirmed by former international midfielder Waidi Akanni, who stated that the late football icon's body had been deposited at a Lagos hospital.
Rufai made his debut for the then Green Eagles in December 1981 and went on to have an illustrious international career spanning 17 years. He won silver medals at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984 and 1988, before finally lifting the coveted trophy in 1994 in Tunisia as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
He represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cup tournaments—in 1994 and 1998—helping the Super Eagles reach the Round of 16 on both occasions. Off the pitch, Rufai remained committed to football development, mentoring young talents and at one time serving as coordinator of the national U23 team.
At club level, he rose to prominence with Lagos-based Stationery Stores, leading them to the final of the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1981. He later had successful stints in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, where his charisma and professionalism made him a fan favorite.
Peter Rufai’s death marks the end of a remarkable era, and tributes continue to pour in from across the footballing world for one of Nigeria’s greatest-ever goalkeepers.
