Ex-Super Eagles defender mourns Peter Rufai, recalls poor treatment of Keshi, Yekini, Oliha
Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has strongly criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Government for abandoning the family of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai, popularly known as “Dodo Mayana.”
Speaking emotionally at Rufai’s burial in Lagos, West said he was heartbroken by the neglect of Nigerian football legends after their playing careers and even in death. The ex-Inter Milan star declared that the injustice has discouraged him from allowing his children to represent the country in football.
“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness,” West lamented in a video posted by News Central.
The former defender expressed dismay that despite Rufai’s heroic contributions, as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 AFCON triumph and the nation’s maiden FIFA World Cup appearance the same year, his family was left struggling financially to bury him.
West also recalled similar neglect suffered by other fallen Nigerian football greats such as Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, describing the trend as disgraceful.
“My mother passed on, and I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands, and I never shed tears. But when Rufai died, I had goosebumps and tears rolled down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?” he asked.
Peter Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana”, passed away in July 2025.
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