By Elizabeth Godwin
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning the family of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who was laid to rest on Friday.
Speaking at the burial ceremony in a video posted by News Central, the former Inter Milan and AC Milan star expressed anger over what he described as Nigeria’s recurring neglect of its football legends after their death.
“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family,” West lamented. “When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples. There were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?”
The ex-international, visibly emotional, said the situation reminded him of the treatment given to other fallen Nigerian football heroes such as Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha. He warned that the country’s failure to honour its legends discourages younger generations from committing themselves to national service through football.
“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to play for this country,” West declared. “Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness.”
West described Rufai as a “hero, a soldier, and a football evangelist” who deserved far better recognition from both the football authorities and government.
Peter Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana”, was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, which the Super Eagles won, and also featured at the country’s debut FIFA World Cup appearance that same year.
Rufai, who enjoyed an illustrious career in Nigeria, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, died in July 2025. His death adds to the list of Nigerian football icons whose families, according to West, have been left to struggle after years of sacrifice for the nation.
