ormer Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai has passed away at the age of 61.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), through the official Super Eagles X (formerly Twitter) handle, confirmed his death on Thursday.

“We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai – a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the post read. “Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond. Rest well, Peter Rufai.”

Rufai, popularly known as “Dodo Mayana”, died on Thursday following an undisclosed illness.

A key member of Nigeria’s golden generation, he was part of the Super Eagles squad that clinched the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and also represented the country at the 1994 FIFA World Cup – Nigeria’s first appearance at the tournament.

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest goalkeepers, Rufai earned 65 caps for the national team. In a memorable moment in 1993, he scored a goal in Nigeria’s 6–0 victory over Ethiopia, becoming one of the few goalkeepers in international football to do so.

His club career spanned Nigeria and Europe, with stints at Dragons de l’Ouémé (Benin Republic), Lokeren and Beveren (Belgium), Go Ahead Eagles (Netherlands), as well as Farense and Gil Vicente (Portugal). Known for his agility and lightning-fast reflexes, his acrobatic style earned him his iconic nickname.

Rufai was also committed to education and coaching, enrolling at the National Institute for Sports in Lagos to obtain formal training in football coaching.