The world of football and the entire continent of Africa witnessed a black Thursday with the passing of Nigerian football legend Peter Rufai
The demise of Nigeria’s goalkeeper sent shockwaves across the country, leaving many in bewilderment as they struggled to process and digest the sad occurrence
Late Peter Rufai is reportedly said to have succumbed to prolonged illness after battling with it for a while, according to Radio Nigeria
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, also confirmed Rufai’s death in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter
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 NFF said in a statement
The football world had hardly recovered from the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash when the news of Rufai’s transition to eternity dropped like a bombshell
Rufai was one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Nigerian football, and his passing signals a significant loss. He made 65 appearances for the Nigerian national team from 1983 to 1998 during his sojourn
The late athlete made a stunning and unparalleled record of being the first goalkeeper to play for the senior team at the FIFA World Cup, facilitating the possibility of the Golden Generation to advance second round of the 1994 World Cup
Rufai also made profound contributions to the Super Eagles at the 1998 France World Cup, before the two-time African champions were sent out of the tournament by Denmark in the round of 16
The Super Eagles legend constituted the squad that won the African Cup of Nations in 1994. Just like every other successful athlete who dreams big would late Rufai played for international clubs in Europe like Lokeren, Beveren, Go Ahead Eagles, Deportivo La Coruna, and Gil Vicente
