US EditionFormer Nigeria Goalkeeper Peter Rufai Dies at 61
- Peter Rufai, a former Nigerian goalkeeper and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations champion, died on July 3, 2025, in Lagos after a brief illness.
- Rufai passed away after several weeks of illness, closing the chapter on a distinguished career during which he earned more than 60 caps for Nigeria's national team from the early 1980s to the late 1990s, often serving as captain.
- He played a key role in Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON victory in Tunisia and represented the country at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, earning recognition for his composure and reflexes.
- President Tinubu praised Rufai for his strong patriotism and significant role in Nigerian football history, while Peter Obi honored him as a legendary goalkeeper who provided unforgettable moments for the nation.
- Rufai’s legacy includes founding the Staruf Football Academy and mentoring youth, leaving a lasting impact on Nigerian football and inspiring future generations.
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68 Articles
Tinubu, Obi lead tributes as Nigeria mourns goalkeeper Peter Rufai
President Bola Tinubu and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi have paid glowing tributes to the late Nigerian football legend, Peter Rufai, who passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the age of 61 after a brief illness. In a condolence statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Rufai as “a patriotic sportsman who wrote his name in gold.” The President lauded the late goalk…
Peter Rufai, emblematic goalkeeper of Nigerian football, prince of a tribe of Idimu (a region of Lagos) who chose to devote himself to the ball before being king, died on Thursday in his country at 61 years of age because of a cardiac arrest while resting in his residence. Rufai defended his country in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups of the United States and France and wore the T-shirts of Hercules and Deportivo in the late 1990s from the leagues o…
Peter Rufai, former Nigeria goalkeeper who played in two World Cups, dies | Peter Rufai | Peter Rufai age | Peter Rufai career | A dark day in football
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