Peter Rufai had a successful club career across Europe, playing for clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, has passed on.
According to Radio Nigeria, Rufai, the son of a Lagos traditional ruler, died on Thursday morning at the age of 61.
Although there is no official statement from the family yet, the news of Rufai’s death sent shockwaves through the Nigerian football community and beyond, as tributes begin to pour in for the iconic goalkeeper.
Rufai was a central figure in Nigeria’s golden football era.
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He was the first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph and represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups—USA ’94 and France ’98.
Renowned for his leadership, reflexes and charisma, Rufai earned over 60 caps for the national team and remained one of Nigeria’s most celebrated goalkeepers.
Beyond his national team heroics, he had a successful club career across Europe, playing for clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
After retirement, he remained active in football development and youth mentoring through his Staruf Academy in Lagos.
