President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.
Tinubu who described Rufai as a legendary goalkeeper said he was one of those patriotic sportsmen across Nigeria and Africa.
He said the late goalkeeper would be remembered by all as someone who wrote his name in gold.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu condoled with Rufai’s family and loved ones.
Onanuga said, The President condoles 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 all over Nigeria.
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,” he said.
The former goalkeeper died at the age of 61 after a brief illness on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Recalling some of Rufai’s outstanding moments in football, Tinubu was quoted saying, “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,” Tinubu noted.
