Nigerian Football mourns as legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies at 61

The Nigerian football family has been thrown into deep mourning following the passing of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai in Lagos.

The football legend reportedly died in the early hours of Thursday at about 6 a.m. in a Lagos hospital after a brief illness.

Rufai, fondly remembered as the Super Eagles’ dependable first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments, had been battling illness for weeks before his demise. In a statement, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing it as a big blow to Nigerian football.

Rufai made his debut for the then Green Eagles in December 1981 in a friendly match and went on to enjoy an illustrious 17-year international career. He was part of the Nigerian squads that secured silver medals at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984 and 1988, and notably played a crucial role in Nigeria’s unforgettable 1994 AFCON victory in Tunisia.

The charismatic goalkeeper was also in between the sticks for Nigeria during the country’s World Cup appearances in 1994 and 1998. After hanging his gloves, Rufai devoted himself to nurturing young talents and once served as a coordinator of the country’s U23 national team.

Outside his national team duties, Rufai was a cult hero at Lagos-based club Stationery Stores, where he helped lead the side to the final of the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1981. His club career also spanned several countries, with successful stints in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

The Nigerian football community continues to mourn the loss of a legend whose influence on and off the pitch left an indelible mark on the game.