Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champion, Peter Rufai, has passed away at the age of 61.
Peter Rufai reportedly died on Thursday following a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Nigerian football history.
Paying tribute to the late icon, the Super Eagles described him as a towering figure whose contributions to Nigerian football would never be forgotten.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the national team wrote: “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.”
Nicknamed ‘Dodo Mayana,’ Rufai was renowned not just for his heroics between the posts but also for his charisma and leadership.
He was part of the historic Super Eagles squad that clinched the 1994 AFCON title and secured Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance the same year.
