Peter Rufai’s Success Paved The Way For Younger Footballers Across Nigeria – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has come out to mourn the death of legendary Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Rufai. Recall that Dodomayana died on the 3rd of July 2025 at the age of 61 after a long illness.

According to him, Peter Rufai would be remembered as one of the patriotic sportsmen who wrote their names in gold while playing for the country.

He added that he’ll never forget the heroic contributions of the deceased in the historic victory of the Super Eagles at the 1994 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

His words, “President Tinubu notes 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.

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.

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.”

WOW.