Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies at 61 after prolonged illness

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.