Obituary: Peter Rufai, former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has died

Peter Rufai, a legend of Nigerian football and the iconic former goalkeeper of the Super Eagles, passed away on July 3, 2025, at the age of 61. His death was confirmed this evening by the Nigerian Football Federation and Radio Nigeria.

A former stalwart of the Nigerian national team, Peter Rufai ended his battle with illness on Thursday morning in his hometown of Lagos. Born on August 24, 1963, Peter Rufai left an indelible mark on Nigerian football with his stellar performances for the national side. He lifted the 1994 AFCON trophy with the Super Eagles and competed at three World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002).

The son of a tribal king from Idimu, Rufai declined to succeed his father in 1998, choosing instead to dedicate his life to sport. His professional goalkeeping career spanned two decades, from 1980 to 2000, starting at Stationery Stores and Femo Scorpions in Nigeria before shining in Europe with KSK Beveren, Go Ahead Eagles, SC Farense, Deportivo La Coruña, and Gil Vicente FC.

Lydiane N'Po |

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Sports journalist specializing in African football, covering football news, exclusive stories and digital content for passionate fans of the game.