Nigeria lost its former iconic and legendary goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, following his death on July 3, 2025 after a brief illness in Lagos. He was one of the greatest goalkeepers of the national team, the Super Eagles. From 1983 when he made his debut for the national team to 1998 when he retired, he earned 65 caps and became the first Super Eagles goalkeeper to represent the country in two World Cups – USA ‘94 and France ‘98 – where he also guided the team to the round of 16. He also represented the country at four AFCON tournaments, a rare feat in Nigerian football.
Aged 61, Rufai will be remembered for his exceptional reflexes and remarkable shot stopping abilities, which inspired confidence behind the sticks, making him the toast of the fans during his heydays in the round leather game. He helped Nigeria win its second Nations Cup in 1994; 14 years after Christian Chukwu lifted the trophy on home soil. Rufai’s success story is a reminder that humility and first impression matter.
In his early days at the national team, he recalled in an interview how he used to gather the boots of senior goalkeepers, like Peter Fregene and Best Ogedegbe, after training and during camps. Also, it didn’t take him long to become the fan’s favourite during his first camping with the team coached by the Brazilian tactician, Otto Gloria, then, in Spain. He achieved that by stopping ferocious shots during training.
Aside from excelling in the colours of the Super Eagles, Rufai impressed for club sides in Nigeria and outside the country, where he plied his trade. In Nigeria, he played for the defunct Sharks of Port Harcourt and Stationery Stores of Lagos. Afterwards, he had a stint with Dragons de l’Ouémé of Benin Republic before venturing out of Africa. In Belgium, he played for Sporting Lokeren and K.S.K. Beveren for six years. He spent a season with the Dutch side, Go Ahead Eagles, from where he relocated to Portugal with Farense, and played a major role in the club’s qualification for the UEFA Cup for the first time in history, in 1994.
What distinguished Rufai from others was his consistency at the highest level of football wherever he sojourned. His exploits in Portugal soon caught the attention of the Spanish La Liga, where he played for Hércules and Deportivo La Coruña before returning to Portugal to play for Gil Vicente. His heroics also opened the door for the next generation of Nigerian goalkeepers to sojourn offshore.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), while reacting to his passing, hailed Rufai on X as a legend and a colossus: “We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai – a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion. Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”
Fondly called Dodo Mayana, Rufai’s demise brings to six members of the Nigerian golden generation that have died since the 1994 exploits on the continent and in the global fiesta, others being Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi, Uche Okafor, Thomson Oliha, and Wilfred Agbonavbare.
The family of Peter Rufai described the death of the legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper as an irreplaceable loss. In a statement, the family stated: “with total submission to the will of the Almighty God, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the transition to glory of our father and brother, the legendary former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Prince Peter ‘Dodo Mayana’ Rufai. “Despite our shock and sadness at his rather sudden demise, we are indeed extremely grateful to God for the impactful life He granted Prince Peter Rufai through a very successful football career that made him become world famous,” they stated.
Off the field of play, Rufai contributed to Nigeria’s sport development. Upon retirement, he established Staruf Football Academy, which focused attention on grassroots football and youth development. He spent decades building the brand until he died. Rufai was also a one-time coordinator of the Nigeria U-23 team.
We enjoin other Nigerian sportsmen and women to emulate what Rufai did after retirement by giving back to the society that brought them to national and global limelight. Considering Rufai’s exploits in the field of play and contributions to the development of Nigerian football, the federal government should immortalize him. We commiserate with his family, friends and the sports community for the great loss.
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