Peter Rufai, the first Nigerian goalkeeper to play professionally abroad, has died. The football legend died on Thursday evening at the age of 61. The Oshodi-born goalkeeper, who grew up in Sabon-Gari, Kaduna, and later returned to Port Harcourt, the hometown of his mother, during the civil war, was a moonlit tale. He dominated the 1980s as a goalkeeper who was always entertaining to watch. Peter Rufai’s sensitivity to moving balls resembles a cat fleeing a snake bite.
His acrobatic style and heroic humor in the face of trained strikers who are excellent at shooting balls into the net from all angles, as well as his ability to save shots moving at inconceivable speeds, distinguish him and make him a unique goalkeeper to watch. Many people who complimented Peter Rufai’s abilities had no idea he was an Electrician turned an accidental goalkeeper who began his career as a midfielder.
Peter Rufai was a deity of goalposts. He proudly wore the garb of greatness and perfection. Rufai, the son of a community monarch who confidently wore Christmas shoes to screenings and scouting, was more than just a goalkeeper. He personified the spirit of football and captivated the hearts of Nigerians with his abilities. Nigerians protested his exclusion from the national squad. They stormed major streets in Lagos to protest his exclusion. He returned and finally captained Nigeria in its first World Cup appearance.
Many football fans believed that only forwards and midfielders could entertain by dribbling and unleashing incredible shots into the goal, but Peter Rufai proved them wrong. He left midfield and returned to secure the goalpost. He wore the goalkeeper’s uniform with honor, class, beauty, and eccentricity, making it colorful. He diverted the attention of spectators on the pitch to the goalpost, where he demonstrated exceptional goalkeeping abilities.
Rufai was a goalkeeper who accomplished various things. He made several gorgeous appearances. However, his heroics in the 1994 AFCON final helped Nigeria win the trophy as much as Emmanuel Amuneke’s brace, as he saved multiple chances from Zambian players, including Kenneth Malitoli and Kalusha Bwalya. This particular performance has become an epic story for those who admire his abilities.
How Peter Rufai accidentally became a goalkeeper
In an interview, Peter Rufai revealed that his career as a goalkeeper began when the Nigerian civil war broke out in 1967.
Rufai also revealed that he and her mother moved to Port Harcourt, where his mother changed his Yoruba name to his renowned first name, “Peter,” to protect him from reprisal attacks because Port Harcourt was controlled by the Biafran military.
Rufai revealed that while recounting his journey to becoming a goalkeeper, he was playing as a midfielder for his new school, Municipal Primary School, in an inter-school match.
“Both teams had conceded eight goals, making it four per team. My teammates were frustrated with our goalkeeper for conceding cheap goals.” He became enraged and left the goalpost empty.”
“He left the post, took his shirt off, and threw it away. “I caught the shirt and stepped into the goalpost,” Rufai recalled.
“I became the goalkeeper and stopped the shots as they came. I was halting these shots with my head, legs, and entire body. So we won the match 5-4.
“At the next school game, everyone declared I had to play goalkeeper. From then on, I started playing goalkeeper.”
How Peter Rufai became the first Nigerian goalkeeper to play professionally abroad
Rufai revealed in an interview that he made his Green Eagles debut in a friendly encounter in December 1981.
According to Rufai, he represented Nigeria in the 1984 African Cup of Nations and became the first Nigerian goalie to play abroad in 1985.
Peter Rufai has signed for Dragon FC of the Republic of Benin. He eventually relocated to Belgium and spent six years with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen and K.S.K. Beveren.
A check revealed that Peter Rufai did not leave his European base for years after retirement. He finished his studies and worked as a sports administrator in Belgium and the Netherlands. Rufai returned to Spain in 2003, settling there and opening a goalkeeper’s academy.
A brief profile of Peter Rufai, the first Nigerian goalkeeper to play professionally abroad
Peter Rufai was a well-known Nigerian professional footballer who played goalie for the Super Eagles, earning 65 caps and having a long-lasting impact on African football.
EARLY LIFE
He was born on August 24, 1963, in Oshodi, Lagos. He came from a royal family and was nicknamed “Dodo Mayana” due to his frightening presence and regal ancestry.
CAREER
Rufai started his football career with local Lagos clubs Stationery Stores F.C. and Femo Scorpions, where he rose to national prominence by helping Stores reach the 1981 African Cup final. He finally relocated to the Benin Republic to play for AS Dragons FC de l’Ouémé in 1986, which marked the beginning of his international career.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
He has played for numerous European clubs, including Belgium’s K.S.C. Lokeren (1987-1991) and K.S.K. Beveren (1991-1993), the Netherlands’ Go Ahead Eagles (1993-1994), Portugal’s S.C. Farense (1994-1996) and Gil Vicente FC (1999-2000), and Spain’s Hércules CF (1996-1997) and Deportivo La Coruña (1997-1999).
He has represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups (1994 and 1998) and four Africa Cup of Nations events. He won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, making crucial penalty saves during the tournament.
ACHIEVEMENTS
He was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to score in an international match, converting a penalty in a 6-0 victory over Ethiopia in 1993. In 1994-1995, he assisted S.C. Farense in making their maiden UEFA Cup appearance. He developed the Staruf Football Academy in Lagos to mentor young players while emphasizing discipline and education in addition to football. He attributed his 20-year career to discipline and hard work, and he served as a role model for aspiring goalkeepers.
PERSONAL LIFE
He died on July 3, 2025, at the age of 61, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of football players and spectators. He married Mikaila Rufai and had several children, including his eldest son, Senbaty, who played football as a midfielder.
He passed away on July 3, 2025, at the age of 61, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of footballers and fans.
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