Top dignitaries, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, have expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who died on Thursday at the age of 61 after a prolonged illness.
In a statement from the presidency, President Tinubu described Rufai, fondly known as “Dodo Mayana,” as a symbol of national pride whose contributions to Nigerian football will never be forgotten.
“Peter Rufai stood tall for Nigeria in his prime. He was one of the patriotic athletes who wrote their names in gold. His legacy will continue to inspire both current and future generations,” Tinubu stated.
Rufai was a key figure in Nigeria’s golden football era, playing a vital role in the country’s triumph at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and its debut at the FIFA World Cup later that year.
Labour Party presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, also took to social media to mourn the football icon.
“Rest in power, Peter Rufai, our Dodo Mayana. He was unarguably one of Nigeria’s finest goalkeepers. May his legacy continue to inspire generations,” Obi posted on X.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) joined the outpouring of grief, calling Rufai a “giant of Nigerian football.”
“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond,” the NFF said in a tribute posted on X.
Rufai, who earned 65 caps for the national team, also had a successful club career across Europe before retiring to establish a goalkeeping academy in Nigeria.