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Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tonubu has
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joined millions of sports lovers in
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Nigeria and across the globe to mourn
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the death of ex super eagles iconic
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goalkeeper Peter Rufi fondly called
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Donayana with the president describing
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the football legend as a great patriotic
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citizen who hailed from a royal family
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and brushed aside the glamour and
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privileges of a royal family to become
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one of the first set of professional
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football players in Nigeria and one of
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the patriotic sportsmen who wrote the
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gains in gold in the annals of sports in
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Nigeria and Africa continent in general.
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According to President Bola Ahmed Tonubu
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in a press release issued by the
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presidential spokesperson, Beo Onuger
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and made available soon after the death
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of Peter Rufi was announced on Thursday
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evening, Peter Rufi was an ineitable
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goalkeeper. In quotes, the statement
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reads, "President Bola Ahmed Tonubu
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expresses great sadness at the passing
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of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper
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Peter Rufi, who was 61. The president
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condols with the Rufi family, friends,
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and football enthusiasts on the demise
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of the inimitable goalkeeper fondly
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called Dodayana by his numerous fans and
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football lovers all over Nigeria.
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President Tonubu notes that Peter Rufi
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would be remembered as one of those
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patriotic sportsmen who wrote the names
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in gold in the sporting annals of
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Nigeria and the African continent. I
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recall with fond memories the heroic
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contributions of Peter Rufi in the
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historic victory of the Super Eagles at
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the 1994 edition of the Africa Cup of
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Nations in Tunisia as the first choice
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goalkeeper followed up with Nigeria's
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equally epoch making first appearance at
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the FIFA World Cup competition dubbed
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USA 94. Rufi was also a strong member of
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the team at the subsequent edition of
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the competition in France in 1998.
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Having started his career with
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stationary stores of Lagos in 1980, Rufi
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was one of the earliest footballers in
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Nigeria to go professional playing in
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many European countries including
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Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the
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Netherlands, bringing honor to the
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nation and opening a new window of
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opportunities for young footballers in
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Nigeria. President Tonubu says after he
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retired from active football, Peter, a
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prince of the royal house in Adimu,
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Lagos, set up the Staruof Football
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Academy where he continued to inspire,
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mentor, and nurture young footballers.
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President Tonubu praised for comfort for
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all who mourn Rufi's loss and for the
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repose of Rufi Sue. July 3rd, 2025 was
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more or less like a black Thursday for
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football lovers across the globe as the
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death of the Nigerian legend comes as a
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dark day for the global football
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community. It also coincided with the
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sudden passing of a Portugalborn
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Liverpool forward Dio Jota who died in a
