Fondly known as Dodomayana, Rufai was celebrated as one of the finest goalkeepers Nigeria has ever produced. His stellar career spanned two decades, during which he played club football across Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Rufai donned the green and white of Nigeria with pride, representing the country in two FIFA World Cups and two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments. He was instrumental in Nigeria’s golden football era of the 1990s, earning admiration for his agility, leadership, and passion for the game.
His passing comes on a particularly tragic day for global football, as news also broke of the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who reportedly died in a car crash in Spain earlier on Thursday, alongside his brother.
Tributes have been pouring in for Rufai from fans, teammates, and football bodies around the world, remembering him not just as a formidable goalkeeper but as a national hero who inspired generations.
