The Nigeria football company became apparent on Thursday evening after it was confirmed that the FIFA World Cup goalkeeper of the country from 1994 and 1998 Peter Rufai died in Lagos after a period of illness.
“This is real, really shocking,” said NFF -Secretary -General, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in Abuja. ‘Peter Rufai dead? What happened? I am confusing. We didn’t even know he had been sick.
“We seriously pray to the almighty God to give him eternal peace and to comfort all his loved ones and the entire Nigeria football family.”
Reports said that the flamboyant goal-tender, who was in and out of the senior team of Nigeria for 17 years, had been sick for several weeks before giving up the mind in a Lagos hospital on Thursday at around 6 am.
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Former international midfielder Waidi Akanni from Nigeria confirmed that the body of one of the true heroes of Nigeria Football was deposited in a hospital in Lagos.
Rufai made his debut for when Green Eagles won the Africa Cup of Nations Silver in a friendly competition in December 1981 in 1984 and 1988, before Nigeria wiped Glory in the Continental Finals in Tunisia in 1994. He was the first-choice goalkeeper in the three championships.
The charismatic and disciplined keeper also held the goal for Nigeria in the FIFA World Cup Finals 1994 and 1998 (the Super Eagles made the round of 16 on both occasions and dedicated his days after retirement to discover and guide young players. He also served as coordinator of the Nigeria U23 team at the same time.
Apart from his memorable trips with the Super Eagles, Rufai was an extraordinary figure at Lagos Club, stations -stores, with whom he reached the final of the Africa Cup Winners Cup competition in 1981. He also played professionally in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
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