Naija Blog — Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and Nigerian football icon, Peter Rufai, has passed away at the age of 61.
The sad development was confirmed on Thursday, July 3, 2025, by a senior official of the Lagos State Government. However, no formal statement has yet been released by his family.
According to Radio Nigeria, the celebrated shot-stopper died in the early hours of Thursday morning after battling a prolonged illness that had kept him away from public life in recent months.
Peter Rufai, fondly known as “Dodo Mayana,” earned 65 caps for the Nigerian national team and remains one of the country’s most respected goalkeepers. He represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cup tournaments and played a pivotal role in the team’s historic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph in 1994.
Rufai’s career spanned both local and international clubs, including Nigeria’s Stationery Stores and the Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, earning a reputation for composure, discipline, and leadership on the pitch.
Off the field, Rufai recently made headlines in June 2025 when he revealed he had been the target of a cyberattack. He reported that hackers had accessed his personal and corporate data, including his Nigerian passport. Rufai urged authorities to investigate and expressed faith in law enforcement to apprehend those responsible.
Tributes have begun pouring in from fans, former teammates, and the wider football community, celebrating his legacy as a true legend of Nigerian football.
