Nigerian Football
Peter Rufai, MKO Abiola’s birthday mate clocks 60 today
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Former Nigeria captain and goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has joined the Diamond Jubilee Club as he clocks 60 years today.
Coincidentally, he shares the 24 August birthday with Africa’s greatest ever known philanthropist, Bashorun MKO Abiola who would have been 86 today if he were alive.
Rufai will be marking his 60th birthday anniversary in a couple of day’s time and the highpoint of it will be the unveiling of a book on the Nigerian football legend.
It is written by famous Nigerian sports journalist and academician, Dr. Mumini Alao.
The power-packed programme is slated for the first week of September.
Easily the most flamboyant Nigerian national team goalkeeper and perhaps the first to venture abroad, Rufai was a trojan at the goal post.
With 62 international appearances for Nigeria, he established himself as a fine successor to Emmanuel Okala and Best Ogedegbe.
He ranked close to Muda Lawal, Austin Okocha and Stephen Keshi in the number of appearances for the national team.
Rufai was a creative goalkeeper whose sharp reflexes and long reach enabled him to make difficult saves.
Peter Rufai (r) as Nigeria’s skipper at the USA ‘94 World Cup meets the legendary Diego Maradona in pre match formality ahead of their Group D clash in Foxboro.
His major attribute lay in his ability to stop penalty kicks. In 1981 when he had his first international experience with Super Stores in the African Winners’ Cup, Rufai was instrumental to the club’s saves against A.S. Benghazi in Tripoli, CAPS United of Zimbabwe in Lagos and Union Sportive of Douala in Yaoundé.
Some of his most spectacular saves were in 1983 at Rabat, Morocco. Rufai saved two penalty kicks to give Nigeria a 5-3 win in the last qualifying match for 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.
It was that game that shot him into international prominence. His other penalty saves were in the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations against Egypt, 1988 Africa Cup of Nations match against Algeria and in 1994 against Cote d’Ivoire. All were semi-final matches.
One of his greatest disappointments in the national team was a 1985 World Cup-tie against Tunisia in Tunis. Rufai kept a clean slate in Lagos where Nigeria managed a 1-0 win. Back in Tunis, the North Africans nullified the goal in 30 minutes.
Peter Rufai could not understand what happened on the fateful night of 20 July 1985.
He was no doubt badly protected by his defenders. Rufai clad in his famous yellow shirt and black trousers almost shouted himself hoarse.
His worst outing was at the France ’98 World Cup where he was a last minute inclusion into the Nigerian team. No doubt, the goalkeeper was the weak link of the disorganised Nigerian defence.
But Peter Rufai had his excuses. He said that he was compelled to join the Nigerian squad despite not being prepared mentally and physically for the tournament.
When the 1997/98 season was finishing, Rufai said he was planning to go on holiday in Cuba and had stayed out late at a disco party before he got his call up to the national squad. At France ’98, Rufai came under heavy criticism following Nigeria’s 4-1 loss to Denmark. It was the heaviest tally Rufai conceded in any full international.
As a goalkeeper, he scored a goal for Nigeria when he converted a penalty for the Super Eagles in a 6-0 defeat of Ethiopia during the last qualifying game for Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations.
He became the first Nigerian goalkeeper abroad when he crossed the border to guide the goal post for Dragon FC of Republic of Benin in 1986.
Two years earlier, he left Stationery Stores after four seasons with the club to join a less-fancied Femo Scorpions in a rural town of Eruwa. After four years in Benin Republic, Rufai joined the Belgium trek and signed for Lokeren in the 1989/90 season.
He featured for a couple of clubs in Europe, among which are Beveren (Belgium), Go Ahead Eagles (Holland), Farense (Portugal), Hercules (Spain), Deportivo La Coruña (Spain) and Gil Vicente (Portugal). His most successful spell was with the Portuguese team, Farense.
His spectacular form in the club made Rufai to be acknowledged as the best goalkeeper in Portugal. He was with the club for two seasons and started in 26 matches in the 1994/95 season. In the following season he featured in 23 games for the Portuguese club before joining the Spanish side, Hercules and then Deportivo La Coruña in the 1997/98 season.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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