The legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rafai, dies at 61

The death of the former International goalkeeper of Nigeria Peter Rafai at the age of 61 has been confirmed by Radio Nigeria and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), reports Owngoalnigeria.com.

It was reported that he died after a brief disease in his residence in Lagos, where he has been since his retirement from football.

Winner of the 1994 AFCon with the Super Eagles and also a veteran of two world cups in 1994 and 1998, respectively, was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to play abroad when he moved to Dragons of Benin Republic.

He later had periods in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain before his retirement in 2000, ending his career that lasted more than 20 years.

Rufai was the son of a tribal king in the Idimu region. In early 1998, when his father died, his club (Deportivo) allowed him to return to Nigeria to discuss the succession, but rejected the status for himself.