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Peter Rufai

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Peter Rufai
black male with distinguished square features and uniquely pock-marked face, short afro hair and wearing sporting jersey
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-08-24)24 August 1963
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Date of death 3 July 2025(2025-07-03) (aged 61)
Place of death Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1984 Stationery Stores
1985 Femo Scorpions
1986–1987 Dragons de l'Ouémé
1987–1991 Lokeren 206 (0)
1991–1993 Beveren
1993–1994 Go Ahead Eagles 12 (0)
1994–1997 Farense 62 (0)
1997 Hércules 10 (0)
1997–1999 Deportivo La Coruña 9 (0)
1999–2000 Gil Vicente 1 (0)
International career
1983–1998 Nigeria 65 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Peter Rufai (24 August 1963 – 3 July 2025) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played for Super Eagles as a goalkeeper.[1][2]

Having begun his career with Stationery Stores, he competed professionally abroad in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, in a senior career that lasted 20 years.

Rufai represented Nigeria in two World Cups and as many Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Club career

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Born in Lagos, Rufai started his career in his country, playing with Stationery Stores and Femo Scorpions. He moved to Benin in 1986, with Dragons de l'Ouémé.

At a more professional level Rufai spent six years in Belgium, with Sporting Lokeren[3] and K.S.K. Beveren, although he appeared sparingly. In the 1993–94 season he played 12 matches for Dutch neighbours Go Ahead Eagles, which finished 12th in the Eredivisie.

In 1994, Rufai started a Portuguese adventure with Farense. In his first year, he was instrumental as the Algarve side only conceded 38 goals in 34 matches, qualifying to the UEFA Cup for the first time ever. His solid performances earned him a transfer to La Liga, but he struggled to start for lowly Hércules during his stay, in an eventual relegation.

However, Rufai signed with established Deportivo La Coruña the ensuing summer, backing up another African, Jacques Songo'o, for two seasons – this included keeping a clean sheet in a January 1998 home win against Tenerife (1–0) as the Cameroonian was suspended.[4] He then returned to Portugal for one final year, with modest Gil Vicente, also being second-choice.

Rufai returned to Spain in 2003, settling in the country and opening a goalkeeper's school.[4]

International career

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Rufai earned 65 caps for Nigeria featuring at three AFCON while emerging victorious in the three semi-final penalty shootouts.[5] and represented the nation at two FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998 as their first-choice goalkeeper[6] and also helped the Super Eagles win the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.[7]

On 24 July 1993, during a CAN qualifying match against Ethiopia, Rufai scored a penalty in a 6–0 home win.[8]

Personal life and death

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Rufai was the son of a tribal king in the region of Idimu. In early 1998, as his father died, he was allowed by his club (Deportivo) to return to Nigeria to discuss the succession, but turned down the status for himself.[4]

He was married to Stella Rufai and had three children: A son, Tunde, and two daughters, Tutu and Abiodun. Rufai also had other children outside his marriage; one of them, Senbaty, played as a midfielder, having tried for Sunshine Stars F.C. in the Nigeria Premier League.[9]

Rufai died after a long illness on 3 July 2025, at the age of 61.[10]

Career statistics

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No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 24 July 1993 Surulere Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria  Ethiopia 6–0 6–0 1994 African Cup of Nations qualification

References

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  1. ^ Rufai, o Príncipe que não quis ser Rei: «Sou um filho de Portugal» maisfutebol.iol.pt
  2. ^ Ubanagu, Makua (3 July 2025). "Super Eagles legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies at 61". Punch Nigeria.
  3. ^ Rufai Peter; at KSC Lokeren (in Dutch)
  4. ^ a b c "Deportivo archives". Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  5. ^ Ajala, Opeyemi (19 July 2025). "Peter Rufai: Jaja from Opobo who defied the odds". The Cable. thecable.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  6. ^ World: Africa – Old guard in charge; BBC News, 29 June 1998
  7. ^ African Nations Cup 1994 – Final Tournament Details Archived 4 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine; at RSSSF
  8. ^ Nigeria v Ethiopia, 24 July 1993 Archived 6 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine; at 11v11
  9. ^ He died on July 2025. Peter was also a grandfather of two by his first daughter Tutu. ‘Nigerian League Is Physical’ – Amine[permanent dead link]; PM News, 13 March 2009
  10. ^ "Ex-Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, is dead – Radio Nigeria Lagos".
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