Peter Rufai, one of Nigeria’s most iconic goalkeepers, is dead.
Fondly known as Dodo Mayana, Rufai died on Thursday, 3rd July 2025, in Lagos after a brief illness. He was 61.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the former Super Eagles goalkeeper passed away around 6 am, and his remains have been deposited in a morgue.
Rufai, a towering figure in Nigerian football, was a key member of the historic Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia and qualified Nigeria for its first-ever FIFA World Cup the same year. He remained the first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria during the 1994 and 1998 World Cup tournaments, earning over 60 caps in an international career that spanned 17 years.
The NFF, in a tribute posted on its social media platforms, described Rufai as a “charismatic and disciplined” goalkeeper whose impact on and off the pitch continues to resonate.
“Rufai made his debut for the Green Eagles in a friendly match in December 1981, and won the Africa Cup of Nations silver in 1984 and 1988, before Nigeria swept to glory in the continental finals in Tunisia in 1994,” the statement read. “He was the first-choice goalkeeper in the three championships.”
The NFF further noted that even after hanging his gloves, Rufai dedicated himself to mentoring and grooming young football talents across Nigeria.
Reacting to the news of his passing, the Super Eagles, in an emotional post on X, paid tribute to the man whose agility and presence between the posts earned him legendary status.
“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion. Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond. Rest well, Peter Rufai,” the team wrote.
Rufai’s death adds to the growing list of fallen heroes from Nigeria’s golden generation of football.
Other members of the victorious 1994 AFCON squad who have since passed on include Wilfred Agbonavbare, Uche Okafor, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, and former captain and coach, Stephen Keshi.
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