Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai has died at the age of 61, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed on Thursday. Rufai, affectionately known as “Dodomayana,” passed away in Lagos following a period of illness.
Rufai earned 65 caps for Nigeria during a distinguished international career and was widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the nation’s football history. He featured at two FIFA World Cups, USA 1994 and France 1998, and played a key role in Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph in Tunisia, where the Super Eagles defeated Zambia 2-1 in the final.
“We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the NFF said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi described Rufai’s death as “really shocking,” adding that the loss was a painful blow to the Nigerian football community.
Before his international fame, Rufai played for several domestic clubs in Nigeria and later moved abroad, enjoying professional stints in Benin, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Tributes have poured in from fans, former teammates, and clubs, all hailing Rufai’s contributions to Nigerian football and his legacy as a role model for aspiring goalkeepers.
Written By Rodney Mbua
