AFRICAN football has been plunged into mourning after the death of Nigeria World Cup star Peter Rufai.
The keeper, who won 65 Super Eagles caps, helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
Peter Rufai was the captain of Nigeria when they played England at the 1994 World Cup[/caption]
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest African goalkeepers of all time[/caption]
He spent most of his career playing in Europe[/caption]
Rufai played at the World Cup finals in 1994 and 1998 – and captained Nigeria in their 1-0 loss to England at Wembley in 1994.
But he passed away at a Lagos hospital on Thursday, aged 61, following a long illness.
Nicknamed Dodo Mayana, he played for top-flight clubs across Europe.
Spaniards Deportivo La Coruna and Hercules, Portuguese sides Farense and Gil Vicente, Dutch outfit GA Eagles, as well as Belgians Lokeren and Beveren, all signed the Lagos-born ace.
Rufai joined the select club of goalkeepers to have scored an international goal when converting a penalty in normal time against Ethiopia in 1993.
The son of a tribal king, he passed up the chance to succeed to the throne when his father died in 1999.
Rufai had run a goalkeeping academy in Spain after hanging up his boots.
The Nigerian FA announced: “Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana.
“We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion.
“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond. Rest well, Peter Rufai.”
Rufai died on the same day the world of football was mourning Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain.
Jota was on his way to catch a ferry back to the UK when the tyre on his Lamborghini blew out and the car hurtled off the road, catching fire.
