Peter Rufai, popularly known by his nickname “Dodo Mayana”, has passed away on July 3, 2025, at the age of 61. Born on August 24, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria, Rufai rose from humble beginnings to become a cornerstone of Nigerian football.

He began his career in Nigeria with Stationery Stores and Femo Scorpions before moving to Benin’s AS Dragons in 1986. His talents then took him across Europe, where he played professionally in Belgium (Lokeren, Beveren), the Netherlands (Go Ahead Eagles), Portugal (Farense, and later Gil Vicente), and Spain (Hércules, Deportivo de La Coruña).

Rufai earned 65 caps for the Nigerian national team between 1983 and 1998. He was instrumental in Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Tunisia—serving as captain and defensive bedrock—and represented the Super Eagles in two FIFA World Cups (1994 in the USA and 1998 in France).

After retiring in 2000, Peter Rufai turned his focus to nurturing the next generation. He founded the Staruf Football Academy, launched the grassroots initiative Dodo Mayana Soccerthon, and established the Peter Rufai International Football College in Lagos. He also completed coaching badge training in 2023, all while working as a respected pundit and mentor.

Rufai’s career was marked by remarkable resilience. He overcame health setbacks, including a collapse in 2012 and other health scares, and remained a vocal advocate for football development in Nigeria 

His death is a profound loss to the Nigerian and African football community, but his legacy lives on through the countless young talents he inspired and mentored both on and off the pitch.