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Peter Rufai


Peter Rufai
Date of Birth:
1963-08-24
Place of Birth:
Lagos, Nigeria

Peter Rufai (born 24 August 1963) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He competed professionally in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, in a senior career that lasted 20 years. Rufai represented Nigeria in two World Cups and two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Born in Lagos, Rufai started his career in his home country, playing with Stationery Stores F.C. and Femo Scorpions before moving to Benin in 1986 to join AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé. He then spent six years in Belgium with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen and K.S.K. Beveren, although his appearances were limited. During the 1993–94 season, he played 12 matches for Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles, which finished 12th in the Eredivisie.

In 1994, Rufai joined S.C. Farense in Portugal, where he played a crucial role in helping the team qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time by conceding only 38 goals in 34 matches. His performances earned him a move to La Liga with Hércules CF, but he struggled for playing time and the team was eventually relegated. Rufai then signed with Deportivo de La Coruña, serving as a backup to Jacques Songo'o for two seasons. He kept a clean sheet in a January 1998 home win against CD Tenerife (1–0) when Songo'o was suspended. Rufai returned to Portugal for one final year with Gil Vicente FC before retiring and opening a goalkeeper's school in Spain in 2003.

Rufai earned 65 caps for Nigeria, serving as the first-choice goalkeeper in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. He also helped the Super Eagles win the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Notably, on 24 July 1993, during a CAN qualifying match against Ethiopia, Rufai scored a penalty in a 6–0 home win.

Rufai was the son of a tribal king in the Idimu region. In early 1998, after his father's death, he returned to Nigeria to discuss the succession but declined the status for himself. Rufai's oldest son, Senbaty, played as a midfielder and tried out for Sunshine Stars F.C. in the Nigeria Premier League.

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