Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies at 61 after prolonged illnessNigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.
The legendary shot-stopper passed away on Thursday at the age of 61 after a protracted battle with illness.
Although an official statement from his family is still awaited, the news was confirmed by a senior official in the Lagos State Government, as reported by Radio Nigeria.
Rufai, fondly known as “Dodo Mayana,” was a key figure in Nigerian football during the 1990s.
He earned 65 caps for the national team, representing the country at two FIFA World Cup tournaments—in 1994 and 1998—and playing a pivotal role in Nigeria’s historic victory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.
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At club level, Rufai began his career with Stationery Stores of Lagos before making a mark in Europe with clubs such as Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands and Deportivo La Coruña in Spain.
His death comes on a somber day for the global football fraternity, which is also mourning the tragic passing of Liverpool forward, Diogo Jota.
The Portuguese international reportedly died earlier in the day in a fatal car crash in Spain, alongside his brother.
Tributes have begun pouring in for Rufai, whose contributions to Nigerian football remain etched in the nation’s sporting history.
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