Peter Rufai: How Former Clubs Paid Tribute to Legendary Super Eagles Goalkeeper

Peter Rufai: How Former Clubs Paid Tribute to Legendary Super Eagles Goalkeeper

  • Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai passed away last Thursday at 61 after a prolonged illness
  • Rufai was Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper in the 90s and won the Tunisia 1994 Africa Cup of Nations
  • He played for two clubs in Nigeria before having time in Belgian, Spanish, Dutch, and Belgian teams in Europe

The Nigerian football community came together to mourn the demise of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 61.

Rufai started for Nigeria in the 90s and was in goal during the victorious 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Peter Rufai, Sunday Oliseh, Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles, Nigeria, AFCON 1994.
Peter Rufai celebrates with AFCON 1994 trophy with his Super Eagles teammates. Photo by Neal Simpson.
Source: Getty Images

Dodo Mayana, as he was fondly referred, began his career in Nigeria before moving to Europe, playing for clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain, amongst others.

Legit.ng looks at how his former clubs paid tribute to the legendary goalkeeper.

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Late Peter Rufai’s former clubs' tributes

1. Stationery stores

Rufai began his career with Stationery Stores in Lagos, where he played for four years, before having a short spell at Femo Scorpion in Lagos and Dragons de l'Ouémé in Benin Republic. Stores paid tribute to Rufai with a statement on social media.

2. Gil Vicente

He played for Gil Vicente in his final season as a professional footballer, featuring as second choice for the Portuguese club before announcing his retirement. The Portuguese club acknowledged his services to the club in the 1999/2000 season and extended condolences to his family and friends.

3. Deportivo la Coruna

Rufai spent two seasons in Spain with Deportivo La Coruna and was a backup to Cameroonian goalkeeper Jacques Songo’o, playing just nine league games. Deportivo paid tribute with an official statement on X, a post which received a comment from FC Barcelona.

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4. SC Farense

First division Portuguese club, SC Farense, which Rufai played for from 1994 to 1997 and made the most appearances during his time in Europe, paid tribute to the late goalkeeper, applauding him for his delivery, professionalism and humility.

5. Hercules

Rufai played for Hercules in 1997, featuring in 10 league games for the Valencia-based club. The Spanish club issued a statement on Instagram paying tribute to their former player and extending their love to his family and friends.

Peter Rufai, Antonio Benarrivo, Nwanu, 1994 FIFA World Cup, Foxboro Stadium, Boston, USA.
Peter Rufai playing for Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Photo by Getty Images.
Source: Getty Images

6. Go Ahead Eagles

The 1994 AFCON-winning goalkeeper played for a season with Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles, featuring in 12 games as the club finished 12th in the Eredivisie. He kept three consecutive clean sheets in 1993, and his record stood till 2022 before it was equalled by Andries Noppert.

There is no publicly available tribute from Femo Scorpion, Dragons de l'Ouémé, Lokeren, and Beveren at the time of the publication of this article.

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Rufai shattered stereotypes about African goalkeepers - Expert

Sports psychologist and instructor at the Nigeria Institute of Sports, Adekunle Ayodele Olusola, has hailed late Super Eagles icon Peter Rufai for breaking barriers in European football and paving the way for African goalkeepers.

He told Legit.ng:

"As one of the first Nigerian goalkeepers to achieve significant success in European football, Rufai shattered stereotypes and opened doors for future generations."
"European football had long been skeptical of African goalkeepers, often viewing them as technically inferior or unreliable under pressure."
"Rufai's consistent performances and professional conduct challenged these prejudices, proving that African players could be trusted with the most crucial position on the field."

Peter Rufai's cause of death

Legit.ng reported the cause of Peter Rufai’s death as cardiac arrest, which he suffered at 6 am on Thursday morning and was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital in Lagos.

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Dodo Mayana reportedly complained of chest pain on Wednesday night, but decided to sleep it off. He had a long history of health challenges, which began around 2012.

Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a sports expert for this report.

Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Elijah Odetokun avatar

Elijah Odetokun (Sports Editor) Elijah Odetokun is a Nigerian sports editor at Legit.ng. He has four years of working experience and holds a Bachelor of Agriculture from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and a Diploma in Freelance and Sports Writing from the London School of Journalism. Email: elijah.odetokun@sportsbrief.com

Adekunle Ayodele Olusola avatar

Adekunle Ayodele Olusola (Sports Psychologist and Mental Performance Expert) Dr Adekunle Ayodele Olusola, is a lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Lagos. Specialising in emotional regulation and mental skills training, he helps athletes achieve peak performance. He also teaches sports psychology at the Nigeria Institute of Sports and has numerous publications on therapy, physical exercise, and mental preparation for athletic excellence.

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