On July 3rd, 2025, the world of football was struck by a “hat trick of sorrows.” Among those mourned were Portugal’s Diogo Jota, rising star André Silva, and Nigeria’s legendary goalkeeper, Peter ‘Dodo Mayana’ Rufai. While each loss reverberated across continents, Rufai’s passing marked the end of a golden era in African football, a time defined by grit, discipline, and unmatched leadership between the goalposts.
Who Was Peter Rufai?
Born on August 24, 1963, into the royal family of Idimu in Lagos State, Nigeria, Peter Rufai’s path was destined for leadership. But he chose to lead not from a throne—but from the 18-yard box. He began his football journey with Stationery Stores F.C. and Femo Scorpions, gaining national recognition after helping Stationery Stores reach the final of the 1981 African Cup Winners’ Cup, where they lost to Union Douala of Cameroon. From there, his trajectory pointed only upward.
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In 1986, Rufai made his first international move to AS Dragons FC de l’Ouémé in Benin Republic. It was a stepping stone to Europe, where he would go on to play for clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Rufai spent six years in Belgium, representing K.S.C. Lokeren and K.S.K. Beveren with limited appearances but undeniable promise. He joined Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch Eredivisie in the 1993–94 season, playing 12 matches and helping the team to a mid-table finish.
That same period birthed his enduring nickname. During a Super Eagles training tour in Portugal, fans were so dazzled by his performance that they chanted “Dodo” (Portuguese for “keep going”). The chant evolved into “Dodo Mayana”—a name that came to symbolise his energy, resilience, and presence.
Rufai’s international career is studded with defining moments. He earned 65 caps for the Nigerian national team and was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to score for the Super Eagles, converting a penalty in a 6–0 victory over Ethiopia in a 1994 AFCON qualifier.
His performances at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia were pivotal. As Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, he helped deliver the country’s second continental title, adding gold to previous silver medals won in 1984 and 1988. That same year, Nigeria reached its highest-ever FIFA world ranking at number 5—a testament to the Super Eagles’ dominance and Rufai’s leadership.
He captained Nigeria during their first World Cup appearance in 1994 (USA) and retained the No. 1 jersey at the 1998 edition in France, helping the team reach the Round of 16 on both occasions. Despite a crushing 4–1 loss to Denmark in 1998—a game he later described as the most painful of his career—his composure and leadership remained hallmarks of his time with the national team.
In early 1998, tragedy struck again when Rufai’s father passed away, and he was called to assume the family throne. But he made a personal and powerful decision—declining the kingship to continue his football career. His love for the game outweighed tradition, proving once again that his calling was greater than his title.
Rufai joined S.C. Farense in Portugal in 1994, helping the club qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time by conceding just 38 goals in 34 matches. His success earned him a move to La Liga, signing with Hércules CF, though limited to backup duties in a season that ended in relegation.
He later moved to Deportivo de La Coruña, serving as understudy to Cameroonian legend Jacques Songo’o, and even kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win against CD Tenerife in 1998. He ended his professional career with Gil Vicente FC in the 1999–2000 season, bringing down the curtain on a career that spanned nearly two decades.
After retirement, Rufai shifted focus to mentorship and youth development. In 2010, he launched the Staruf Football Academy in Lagos, emphasising a holistic approach to sport—where education and discipline went hand in hand with football.
In Spain, where he later settled, he established a goalkeeping school and worked with Nigeria’s U-23 national team as coordinator. He became a pillar of grassroots development, training the next generation of African goalkeepers with the same tenacity that defined his career.
His son, Senbaty Rufai, followed in his father’s footsteps, playing as a midfielder and trying out for Sunshine Stars F.C. in the Nigeria Premier League.
In 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari honoured Rufai and his fellow 1994 Super Eagles teammates with houses in Abuja—a long-overdue recognition for players who had united a nation through sport.
Peter Rufai was more than a footballer. He was a statesman in gloves, a quiet leader whose voice rose not through words, but through actions on the field and selfless contributions off it.
Before Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Dele Aiyenugba, and now Stanley Nwabali, there was Rufai—the bridge that connected eras of Nigerian football. His style, integrity, and fierce intelligence inspired not only teammates but generations of African youth who saw in him the possibility of greatness through hard work.
From Dodo Mayana Soccerthon to football clinics across the continent, he turned his legacy into a platform for progress—advocating education, mentorship, and the importance of character in sport.
While the world grieves for André Silva’s unfulfilled potential and Diogo Jota’s brilliance cut short, the passing of Peter Rufai resonates differently. His life was not just a career; it was a calling—lived and fulfilled with honour.
As tributes pour in from fans, former players, and world leaders, one thing is clear: Peter ‘Dodo Mayana’ Rufai was not just a guardian of goalposts, but of Nigeria’s footballing soul.
