Peter Rufai, a former goalkeeper for the Super Eagles and a gold medalist at the 1994 African Nations Cup, dedicated significant effort to maintain his form and reputation.
The legendary goalkeeper represented Nigeria’s senior national team for over ten years, playing for various European clubs including Lokeren, Beveren, Farense, Go Ahead Eagles, Hércules, Gil Vicente, and Deportivo de La Coruña.
Born in Oshodi, Lagos State, in 1963 to a tribal king from the Idimu region, Rufai experienced a relatively privileged upbringing within a polygamous family, which was notably better than that of many children during his era.
Following the death of his father in early 1998, Rufai was permitted to return home by Deportivo La Coruña to discuss the succession plan. However, he chose to forgo the opportunity to ascend to his father’s throne, prioritizing his passion for football instead.
As of the time of writing, Rufai, born on August 24, 1963, is 61 years old.
It is worth noting that Ike Shorunmu, who was the first-choice goalkeeper for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, sustained an injury against Germany just weeks before the tournament. In a past interview with Complete Sports, Rufai, affectionately known as Dodo Mayana, recounted that he was enjoying a night out at a club when he received the call from the NFA, now NFF, to participate in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
“I was playing for Deportivo La Coruna at that time. I was literarily frozen out of the national team for reasons I do not know. Though I later discovered there was news circulating back home then that I wasn’t playing for La Coruna again,” Rufai explained.
“So, when the season ended, I decided to travel to Couba for the summer holiday along with some friends from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Deportivo. But while we were still in Madrid, in a Night Club, the biggest in Madrid, Disco Tech, enjoying ourselves, I never knew fate was still holding some cheering news for me.
“Because it was off season, discipline and protocol off, we decided to fly like the bird. But in the morning, on the day we were to travel, I received a phone call from the Nigeria Federation (NFA) now Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) then, asking me to ‘report with immediate effect’ in Switzerland where Super Eagles were camped preparing for the World festival of football in France.”
“At that point, I decided to call my parents back home in Nigeria on the ‘sudden’ Super Eagles invitation, my parents said to me, ‘Peter, obey before complain’. So, instead of traveling to Couba, which I had already bought the ticket, it was straight to airport from the Disco hall and off to Switzerland.”
The decision turned out to be disastrous as Rufai was at fault for most of the goals Nigeria conceded at the tournament.
After France 1998, Rufai retired from international duty with 65 caps to his name.
