Peter Rufai’s Family Thanks Nigerians, Burial Plans to Be Announced Soon.
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Peter Rufai’s Family Thanks Nigerians, Burial Plans to Be Announced Soon.
The family of the late Nigerian football icon, Prince Peter Rufai, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Nigerians at home and abroad for the widespread condolence
s and messages of support following his passing.
Rufai, affectionately known as “Dodo Mayana,” died on the morning of Thursday, July 3, 2025, after a brief illness. He was 61 years old.
In a statement released by his family, they acknowledged the shock of his sudden death but gave thanks for the meaningful and accomplished life he lived.
“With full submission to God’s will, we announce the passing of our father and brother, the legendary goalkeeper of the Super Eagles, Prince Peter ‘Dodo Mayana’ Rufai,” the statement read.
Rufai began his football journey with Sharks FC in the late 1970s and rose to prominence as Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goalkeeper, playing in both the 1994 and 1998 tournaments. He was a key figure in Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory and featured in four AFCON tournaments overall. He earned 66 caps for the national team and is remembered for the rare feat of scoring a goal as a goalkeeper.
His club career took him across Benin Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, where he gained international recognition as one of Africa’s top goalkeepers.
After retiring from professional football, Rufai returned to Nigeria and founded Staruf Sports Development Limited, focusing on grassroots and youth sports development.
The family expressed appreciation for the public’s continued support and said that details regarding his burial would be announced soon.
“We are truly grateful for the love and sympathy shown to us. We will share the funeral arrangements in due time,” the statement concluded.
The message was signed by Rufai’s children, siblings, and other close relatives.
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Faith Kegh
Content & Editorial Manager - Leads the creation, review, and publication of high-quality news and media content. She ensures that all editorial work reflects the organization’s standards of accuracy, professionalism, and relevance, while also engaging and informing the audience.
As the key driver of TokinPoint Media LTD's editorial voice, the manager oversees content planning, assigns tasks to writers or editors, enforces deadlines, and ensures consistency across all platforms. She also plays a strategic role in aligning content with audience interests and search engine optimization (SEO) best practices.