Nigeria’s football community is in mourning following the death of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, fondly known as Dodo Mayana. He passed away on July 3, 2025, at the age of 61, after a prolonged illness.
Rufai was a towering figure in Nigerian football, earning 65 international caps and serving as the first-choice goalkeeper during Nigeria’s golden era. He played a pivotal role in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory in Tunisia and represented Nigeria at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups.
Born on August 24, 1963, in Lagos, Rufai came from royal lineage but chose football over the throne. His club career spanned Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, including stints with Deportivo La Coruña, Farense, and Go Ahead Eagles.
Beyond the pitch, Rufai was a mentor and youth advocate. He founded the Staruf Football Academy in Lagos and returned to school in 2023 to earn coaching credentials.
President Bola Tinubu and former presidential candidate Peter Obi led tributes, describing Rufai as a national hero who “wrote his name in gold” and “gave his all for Nigeria”.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) called him “a giant of Nigerian football” whose legacy will live on “between the sticks and beyond”
