Peter Rufai

Peter Rufai

Personal information
Date of birth	24 August 1963 (1963-08-24)
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1980–1984	Stationery Stores
1985	Femo Scorpions
1986–1987	Dragons de l'Ouémé
1987–1991	Lokeren
1991–1993	Beveren
1993–1994	Go Ahead Eagles	12	(0)
1994–1997	Farense	62	(0)
1997	Hércules	10	(0)
1997–1999	Deportivo La Coruña	9	(0)
1999–2000	Gil Vicente	1	(0)
National team
1983–1998	Nigeria	65	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Peter Rufai (born 24 August 1963 in Lagos) is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Rufai started his career in his country, playing with Stationery Stores F.C. and Femo Scorpions. In 1986, he moved to Benin, with AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé, becoming the first player in his position to play abroad.

At a more professional level, Rufai spent six years in Belgium, with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen and K.S.K. Beveren, although he appeared sparingly. In 1993–94, he played 12 matches for Dutch neighbours Go Ahead Eagles, which finished 12th.

In 1994, Rufai started a Portuguese adventure with S.C. Farense. In his first year, he was instrumental as the Algarve side only conceded 38 goals in 34 matches, qualifying to the UEFA Cup for the first time ever. His solid performances earned him a transfer to La Liga, but he struggled to start for lowly Hércules CF during his stay, in an eventual relegation.

However, Rufai signed with established Deportivo de La Coruña the ensuing summer, backing up another African, Jacques Songo'o, for two seasons - this included keeping a clean sheet in a January 1998 home success against CD Tenerife (1–0), as the Cameroonian was suspended. He then returned to Portugal for one final year, with modest Gil Vicente FC, also being second-choice.

In 2003, Rufai returned to Spain, settling in the country and opening a goalkeeper's school.

International career

Rufai played 65 international matches for Nigeria (scoring once), and represented the nation at two FIFA World Cups, always as starter: 1994 (Nigeria's first ever appearance, where the player also acted as captain) and 1998, also helping the Super Eagles win the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Personal

• Rufai was the son of a tribal king in the region of Idimu. In early 1998, as his father died, he was allowed by his club (Deportivo) to return to Nigeria to discuss the succession, but turned down the status for himself.

• His oldest son, Senbaty, played as a midfielder, having tried for Sunshine Stars in the Nigerian Premier League.

External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Stats at ForaDeJogo (Portuguese)
• BDFutbol profile
• Peter Rufai at National-Football-Teams.com
• Peter Rufai – FIFA competition record