Nigeria’s football community is in mourning following the death of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, who passed away on Thursday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 61 years old.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his passing in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing Rufai as “a giant of Nigerian football” and a 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champion.
“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.
Rest well, Peter Rufai.”
His close friend and former Lagos State Football Association Chairman, Waidi Akanni, also confirmed the death, stating that the former goalkeeper died at 6:00am and had been taken to the mortuary.
Nicknamed “Dodomayana,” Rufai was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers Nigeria has ever produced. His playing career spanned over two decades, with club stints in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Rufai represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998 and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments in 1984, 1988 and 1994, playing a pivotal role in the country’s golden football era.
Tragically, his death comes on the same day the global football world is mourning Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who reportedly died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother.
