*Rufai (right) shakes hand with Diego Maradona ahead of a World Cup match
resident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed great sadness at the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai.
In a condolence message, the President commiserate with the Rufai family, friends, and football enthusiasts on the demise of the inimitable goalkeeper fondly called ‘Dodomayana’ by his numerous fans and football lovers across the Nigeria.
President Tinubu noted that Peter Rufai would be remembered as one of those patriotic sportsmen who wrote their names in gold in the sporting annals of Nigeria and the African continent.
“I recall with fond memories the heroic contributions of Peter Rufai 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, followed up with Nigeria’s equally epoch-making, first appearance at the FIFA World Cup competition, dubbed USA ’94.
“Rufai was also a strong member of the team at the subsequent edition of the competition in France in 1998.
“Having started his career with Stationery Stores of Lagos in 1980, Rufai was one of the earliest footballers in Nigeria to go professional, playing in many European countries including Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, bringing honour to the nation and opening a new window of opportunities for young footballers in Nigeria,” President Tinubu said.
“After he retired from active football, Peter, a Prince of the Royal House in Idimu, Lagos, set up the Staruf Football Academy, where he continued to inspire, mentor and nurture young footballers”. The President added.
President Tinubu prays for comfort for all who mourn Rufai’s loss and for the repose of Rufai’s soul.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also expressed profound sadness and offered its heartfelt condolences after it was confirmed that the country’s 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup first-choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, had died in Lagos following a period of illness.
Reports said the flamboyant goal-tender had been ill for some weeks, before giving up the ghost at a Lagos hospital at about 6am on Thursday.
Former Nigerian international midfielder Waidi Akanni confirmed that the body of one of Nigeria football’s true heroes had been deposited at a Lagos hospital.
“This is really, really shocking,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said in Abuja. “Peter Rufai dead? What happened? I am perplexed. We did not even know that he had been ill.”
“We earnestly pray to the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest and to comfort all his loved ones as well as the entire Nigeria football family.”
Peter Rufai who passed at the age of 61, was a Nigerian professional footballer, he played as a goalkeeper.
