'I was driving' – Eguavoen recalls heartbreaking moment he learned of Peter Rufai's passing

Nigerians received the devastating news of Super Eagles legend Peter Rufai's passing on July 3.

Rufai played a key role in Nigeria's 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and featured for the Super Eagles at the Fifa World Cups in 1994 and 1998.

The flamboyant goalkeeper, who had a 17-year spell with Nigeria's senior team, had reportedly been battling an illness for several weeks before passing away in a Lagos hospital around 6:00 a.m. on Thursday.

A product of Stationery Stores, Rufai played in Spain for Hércules and Deportivo de La Coruña, and also wore the colours of Dragons de l'Ouémé, Lokeren, Beveren, Go Ahead Eagles, Farense and Gil Vicente.

Former Super Eagles coach and Rufai's teammate Augustine Eguavoen has paid an emotional tribute to the legendary goalkeeper, recalling the heartbreaking moment he received the news while driving home from work.

"Shocking, I was driving, I was on the highway back from the office to the house when the news came," Eguavoen told Channels Television on Friday. 

"I'm not somebody who drives so fast anyway, drive about 80 or 100km/h and immediately I went down to 20km/h.

"I was driving so slow, reminiscing, it was quite shocking. At some point I had to pull over and put my thoughts together, and try to dig deep a little bit, call one or two colleagues, and they were not 100 percent sure.

"This morning, it was all over the news when Taribo and Waidi Akanni called me and confirmed. It was quite painful, devastating honestly speaking."

Reflecting on Rufai's personality, Eguavoen spoke fondly of the man affectionately known as Dodo Mayana.

"Dodo was a fun guy, a pure professional. When having fun, if it's time for business he changes his attitude, and he was an easygoing person, jokes a lot.

"It doesn't matter whether you are small or big. I remember one time we travelled to Thailand. We had a lot of home-based players in the team including Baudwin Bazueye, the way he related to them. 

"They kept saying they didn't know Rufai was down to earth. I said you've never met him, that's who he is for you.

"Myself and Dodo were very close and it's quite emotional right now, difficult to actually say something because it's really fresh in my mind."

Eguavoen also highlighted Rufai’s ever-cheerful demeanour and trustworthy character.

"He was ever smiling, somebody to be trusted. We had this relationship because every time we see he reminds me of a lot of games we played together. 

"We became close when I was in Bendel Insurance, and then we started working together towards Tunisia 1994 and we really bonded well – the entire team – but a couple of us were extraordinary because we were in Belgium together for a little while before he moved to Holland, and then to Spain and Portugal.

"We talked at least twice a month, so that's how close we were. I want to wish the family the strength to be able to swallow this bitter pill – for every football follower in this country, even in Africa."

On how Rufai should be honoured, the former Nigeria coach called for tangible recognition of the goalkeeper's legacy.

"Before I left the office this afternoon, I was speaking with Nasiru, because I was out there trying to look at our U15 boys because that's the next U17 team.

"He should be immortalised, Dodo is an icon. A stadium or statue should be erected somewhere, it won't be too much.

"From the information we got, he was quite ill and if he spoke out and needed N100 million, I don't think Nigerians would be silent. 

"One or two persons would raise that money. It's quite unfortunate what happened has happened.”

Eguavoen recalled that the last time he saw Peter Rufai was during an event that brought together several former teammates.

"That was on the phone but when we came in contact was last year because of 'Work for Life' organised by Redeem. 

"Dodo called on all of us, we all trooped in there. We went for a real long walk and had fun after that.

"The last edition we were all together. Some were in Ikoyi. After that it was always on the phone, so that was my last contact with him physically, but on the phone was about a month ago."

Peter Rufai's passing marks the sixth loss from Nigeria's 1994 World Cup squad, following Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Wilfred Agbonavbare, Thompson Oliha and Uche Okafor.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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