The Nigerian national football team has paid tribute to legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who passed away this week.
In a statement shared Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), the Super Eagles hailed Rufai—affectionately known as “Dodo Mayana”—as a towering figure in Nigerian football history.
“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana,” the statement read. “We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion.”
Rufai was a key part of Nigeria’s golden generation, helping the country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and secure its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification in the same year. The Super Eagles praised not only his goalkeeping heroics but also his enduring impact on and off the pitch: “Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”
Peter Rufai was widely respected for his leadership, calm demeanor, and remarkable saves, which made him one of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers. He died at the age of 61.
