President Bola Tinubu has paid a heartfelt tribute to former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 61 after a brief illness.
In a condolence message released by Presidential Spokesperson Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu extended his sympathies to Rufai’s family, friends, and the Nigerian football community, describing the late goalkeeper as a national hero whose legacy is etched in gold.
“Peter Rufai was a patriotic sportsman who carved his name in gold in the annals of Nigerian football and across the African continent,” Tinubu said, recalling the fond memories of Rufai’s role in Nigeria’s historic triumph at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
Popularly known as “Dodomayana” among fans, Rufai was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the victorious 1994 AFCON campaign and also featured prominently in the Super Eagles’ first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in the same year, hosted in the United States.
He went on to play a key role again at the 1998 World Cup in France, solidifying his place as one of Nigeria’s greatest football icons.
“Having started his career with Stationery Stores of Lagos in 1980, Rufai was one of the pioneers among Nigerian players to go professional abroad,” the President noted. “He played in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain bringing honour to Nigeria and paving the way for future generations of footballers.”
Tinubu also praised Rufai’s post-retirement commitment to youth development through his establishment of the Staruf Football Academy. As a prince from the Royal House in Idimu, Lagos, Rufai dedicated his later years to grassroots football, mentoring and developing young talent across the country.
“Through the Staruf Football Academy, he continued to inspire and guide aspiring footballers, ensuring that his legacy would live on not only through his achievements but through the lives he touched,” Tinubu added.
Rufai’s professional career spanned two decades, during which he became a revered figure both on and off the pitch. His death marks the end of an era for Nigerian football, but his contributions will continue to resonate for years to come.
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