Legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, popularly known as “Dodo Mayana,” has passed away at the age of 61.
Newsonspot reports that the tragic news was confirmed on Thursday, July 3, 2025, by a senior official of the Lagos State Government, though his family is yet to release an official statement.
According to Radio Nigeria, the former Super Eagles shot-stopper died on Thursday morning after battling a prolonged illness that kept him away from the public eye in recent months.
Tributes have poured in from fans and officials alike. The Nigerian national team, via a heartfelt post on X, described Rufai as a towering figure in the country’s football history.
“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,” the statement read.
Rufai’s legacy is deeply etched in Nigerian football. He was instrumental in Nigeria’s victory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and also featured in the country’s debut FIFA World Cup appearance the same year.
His club career spanned both local and international clubs, including Stationery Stores in Nigeria and Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands. Known for his leadership and calm demeanor on the field, Rufai was one of the standout figures of Nigerian football in the 1990s.
In June 2025, shortly before his death, Rufai had raised alarm over a cyber-attack that compromised his personal and corporate data, including his Nigerian passport. He urged the public to be alert and expressed faith in law enforcement’s ability to track the culprits.
Peter Rufai’s legacy lives on – both between the goalposts and in the hearts of football lovers across Nigeria and beyond.
