Former Super Eagles captain Eguavoen blasts treatment of late Peter Rufai

Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, has criticised the manner in which the country handled the burial of his late teammate, Peter Rufai, saying Nigeria has failed to properly honour those who sacrificed for the national team.

Rufai, fondly known as “Dodo Mayana,” died in July at the age of 61. He was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and also featured at the country’s maiden FIFA World Cup later that year in the United States.

Eguavoen and Rufai were part of the historic 1994 squad that won the AFCON and secured Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup appearance.

Speaking to News Central after Rufai’s burial in Lagos, Eguavoen said: “I don’t think we’ve done enough. I don’t care what anybody says. A lot of people have gone who put their lives on the line to represent Nigeria.

“Peter Rufai is too big a name for the government and those in charge not to take full responsibility for this burial. He is a household name, a big name. It is so sad,” the former Super Eagles coach lamented.

He recalled the sacrifices made by players during international tournaments, noting the injuries and risks endured in the course of duty.

“The difference between sportsmen and military people is that when we are gone, that’s it. I remember this mark on my face—it was blood all over, and thank God I didn’t go blind. I also remember how Aloy Agu lost his teeth,” he said.

Eguavoen, fondly called “Cerezo,” also drew parallels with the burial of late Super Eagles captain Stephen Keshi, stressing that Nigeria has consistently failed to adequately honour its sporting heroes.