00:00Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tanubu has joined millions of sports lovers in Nigeria and across the globe to warn the death of ex-Super Eagles iconic goalkeeper, Peter Rufi fondly called Dodomayana, with the president describing the football legend as a great patriotic citizen who hailed from a royal family and brushed aside the glamour and privileges of a royal family to become one of the first set of professional football players in Nigeria and one of the patriotic sportsmen who wrote the names of the world.
00:30It's in gold in the annals of sports in Nigeria and Africa continent in general. According to President Bola Ahmed Tanubu in a press release issued by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga and made available soon after the death of Peter Rufi was announced on Thursday evening, Peter Rufi was an inimitable goalkeeper.
00:49In quotes, the statement reads, President Bola Ahmed Tanubu expresses great sadness at the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufi, who was 61.
01:02The president condoles with the Rufi family, friends, and football enthusiasts on the demise of the inimitable goalkeeper fondly called Dodomayana, by his numerous fans and football lovers all over Nigeria.
01:15President Tanubu notes that Peter Rufi would be remembered as one of those patriotic sportsmen who wrote the names in gold in the sporting annals of Nigeria and the African continent.
01:26I recall with fond memories the heroic contributions of Peter Rufi in the historic victory of the Super Eagles at the 1994 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia as the first choice goalkeeper,
01:40followed up with Nigeria's equally epoch-making, first appearance at the FIFA World Cup competition, WSA, 94.
01:48Rufi was also a strong member of the team at the subsequent edition of the competition in France in 1998.
01:57Having started his career with stationery stores of Lagos in 1980, Rufi was one of the earliest footballers in Nigeria to go professional,
02:06playing in many European countries including Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands,
02:12bringing honour to the nation and opening a new window of opportunities for young footballers in Nigeria.
02:17President Tanubu says, after he retired from active football, Peter, a prince of the royal house in Adimu, Lagos,
02:26set up the Staru Football Academy, where he continued to inspire, mentor and nurture young footballers.
02:33President Tanubu prays for comfort for all who mourn Rufi's loss and for the repose of Rufi's sue.
02:39July 3rd, 2025 was more or less like a Black Thursday for football lovers across the globe as the death of the Nigerian legend comes as a dark day for the global football community,
02:52it also coincided with the southern passing of a Portugal-born Liverpool forward, Diogo Jota,
02:58who died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother.
03:01Multiple reports indicated that Peter Rufi passed away in the early hours of Thursday after a prolonged illness,
03:08according to close family and friends.
03:11A post on the official Super Eagles X page also confirmed the death.
03:16Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana, we mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper,
03:23Peter Rufi, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion.
03:30Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.
03:33Rest well, Peter Rufi.
03:35Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in a statement said,
03:40This is really, really shocking, Nigerian Football Federation's General Secretary,
03:45Mohamed Sanusi, said in Abuja.
03:48Peter Rufi dead, what happened, I am perplexed, we did not even know that he had been ill.
03:55We earnestly pray to the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest,
03:58and to comfort all his loved ones as well as the entire Nigeria football family.
04:03Many media reported that the superstar goalkeeper,
04:07who was in and out of the Nigeria senior team for 17 years,
04:12had been ill for some weeks,
04:14before giving up the ghost of the Lagos hospital at about 6am on Thursday.
04:19It ruled that Rufi made his debut for then Green Eagles in a friendly match in December 1981,
04:25and won the Africa Cup of Nations silver in 1984 and 1988,
04:30before Nigeria swept to glory in the Continental Finals in Tunisia in 1994.
04:37He was the first choice goalkeeper in the three championships.
04:40The highly praised goalkeeper also kept goals for Nigeria in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup Finals,
04:49the Super Eagles made the round of 16 on both occasions,
04:52and dedicated his post-retirement days to discovering and mentoring young players.
04:57He also served as the coordinator of the Nigeria under-23 team at a time.
05:03Rufi was also reported to be an extraordinary figure at Lagos Club,
05:08Stationery Stores, with whom he reached the final of the Africa Cup Winners' Cup competition in 1981.
05:15He also played professionally in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
05:19Born on the 24th of August 1963, in a shoddy, Lagos state, Peter Rufi rose from a royal lineage.
05:29His father was a king in Edimu.
05:31Pulse Sports reported that despite having the chance to assume his father's throne after his passing in 1998,
05:38Rufi chose to remain committed to football, a sport that brought him fame and national pride.
05:43Rufi's professional journey began with Nigeria's Stationery Stores and FEMO Scorpions
05:49before moving abroad to play for clubs in Benin Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
05:57His European club career included stints with KSC Lokeran, KSK Beaveran, Go Ahead Eagles,
06:04SC Ferenc, Hercules CF, Deportivo La Coruna and Gil Vicente.
06:09He retired in 2000 after a two-decade-long career.
06:14On the international stage, Rufi earned 65 caps for Nigeria and was a central figure in the Super Eagles squad
06:21that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
06:26He also represented Nigeria at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups and remains one of the few goalkeepers
06:34to score a goal for the national team, converting a penalty against Ethiopia in 1993.
06:41In retirement, Rufi founded the Star Roof Football Academy in Lagos,
06:46mentoring aspiring footballers and giving back to the sport that made him a legend.
06:51He is survived by his wife, Mikaila Rufi, and children, including Sun Senbati,
06:56who briefly played for Sunshine Stars in the Nigerian Top Flight.
07:02Ossas who are on the radio, bringing you the news in a more digital way.
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