Nigeria’s football federation is in mourning following the death of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who passed away early Thursday morning at the age of 61.
Rufai, known affectionately as “Dodomayana” by fans, died after a protracted battle with illness that had kept him away from the spotlight in recent years. Though his family is yet to issue an official announcement, a senior official in the Lagos State Government confirmed the tragic news to reporters.
Celebrated as one of the finest goalkeepers the country has ever produced, Rufai made significant contributions to Nigerian football, both domestically and internationally. He represented the Super Eagles in two FIFA World Cups and featured in multiple Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, including the 1994 edition, where Nigeria lifted the continental trophy in Tunisia.
Rufai earned 65 international caps for Nigeria and was a key figure during the golden era of the national team. At the club level, he played for Stationery Stores before moving abroad, where he had stints in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
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His death comes as the global football community was still grappling with the shock of the passing of Liverpool’s Portuguese forward, Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain earlier on the same day.
Tributes have begun to pour in from across the footballing world, with fans and former teammates remembering Rufai not only for his talent between the posts but also for his leadership and passion for the game.
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