03 July, 2025
Nigeria’s football community was thrown into mourning on Thursday following the death of former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai. The 61-year-old football legend reportedly passed away in the early hours of July 3, 2025, after a long illness that kept him away from public life.
Rufai, a prince of Idimu in Lagos State, was one of the most celebrated goalkeepers in Nigerian football history. A senior official in the Lagos State Government confirmed the sad development, although the family is yet to make a formal announcement.
“His legacy goes beyond the field. Rufai was not just a great goalkeeper, he was a symbol of dedication and patriotism,” said the official who confirmed the news.
Rufai earned 65 caps for the Super Eagles during a career that spanned more than a decade. He was in goal during Nigeria’s victorious 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign and featured in two FIFA World Cup tournaments in 1994 and 1998.
Beyond national glory, he played club football in Nigeria for Stationery Stores and Femo Scorpions, and made his mark in Europe with clubs such as Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands and Deportivo La Coruña in Spain.
“He was a warrior between the posts. He inspired a generation of young goalkeepers and footballers across the country,” said former teammate Mutiu Adepoju, who played alongside Rufai at Femo Scorpions.
Known affectionately as “Dodo Mayana,” Rufai combined royalty and sportsmanship with an enduring humility that made him beloved on and off the pitch.
As tributes pour in, fans and former players across the nation continue to celebrate the life of a man whose hands once carried Nigeria’s football dreams.
