Former Super Eagles legendary goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, is no more

Rufai passed away on Thursday after battling with prolonged illness. He was 61 years.

Dodomayana, as he is fondly called, was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers Nigeria has produced.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria also announced the demise of the former goalkeeper on the team’s official X account.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the post reads.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”

During his playing career that lasted two decades, Rufai played in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

He also represented Nigeria at two World Cups and as many Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Rufai’s death comes on a day the world of football is mourning Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.
Jota died in a car crash in Spain earlier in the day, alongside his brother.

His untimely death has sent shockwaves throughout the football world, coming just days after what seemed to be the peak of his personal and professional life.

The Spanish sports newspaper MARCA reported the incident on Thursday, confirming that Jota died at the scene of the accident.

Born on December 4, 1996, in Porto, Portugal, Jota rose through the football ranks with determination and flair, earning respect across Europe for his explosive performances and versatility in attack.

The right-footed attacker, who could also play as a left or right winger, began his professional journey in Portugal before gaining international acclaim.

Jota joined Liverpool FC on September 19, 2020, from Wolverhampton Wanderers and became a crucial part of the Reds’ attacking options.

As of May 2025, his market value stood at €40 million, peaking at €60 million in December 2021. He extended his Liverpool contract in August 2022, which was due to expire in 2027.

During his career, Jota amassed 398 club appearances across major competitions, scoring 136 goals and providing 66 assists.

He played 190 Premier League matches, scoring 63 goals and registering 24 assists.

His goal-scoring prowess was also seen in the UEFA Champions League (6 goals), Europa League (9 goals), and domestic cups.

The striker had just recently gotten married on June 28 to his partner, Rute Cardoso. 

Nottingham Forest star striker Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma. This comes after having the first phase of surgery on a serious abdominal injury.

The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute of the 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Awoniyi suffered a ruptured intestine in the collision.

He had surgery on Monday night and remains in the hospital, with the rest of the procedure set to be completed on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Forest said Awoniyi was “recovering well” following the operation.

Taiwo Awoniyi, a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare on Sunday, received lengthy treatment on the pitch.

Elanga was in an offside position when he collected the ball but the assistant referee did not raise their flag until after Awoniyi’s collision.

When an immediate goalscoring opportunity is likely to occur, assistant referees are told to keep their flag down until the passage of play is complete.

If a goal is scored, the incident can then be reviewed by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Although this allows goals to be scored, critics say the protocol needlessly endangers players.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis took to the field after the game to express his concern to manager Nuno Espirito Santo over how Awoniyi’s injury was handled.

Marinakis is being kept updated on the forward’s condition.

On Tuesday, Forest said Awoniyi’s injury was “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first”.

Speaking to BBC Sport, consultant colorectal surgeon Gillian Tierney said the type of injury Awoniyi suffered can be fatal.

“The injury is really serious. It is potentially life-threatening,” said Tierney.

“It is very easy to miss at the point of contact and can take hours to diagnose.

“In a hospital setting, we would send a patient for a CT scan, which could take up to 10 hours.

“If it occurred to an athlete who was super fit, very muscular and was running on adrenaline, then I think it would be extremely understandable to miss it. Fluid leaking from the intestine would not be easy to diagnose straight away.

“Surgery is usually required and the stomach would be opened up. The morality stat is 9%. So if an athlete – who went through the procedure – was really fit, they would stand a good chance of being OK.

“It would be different if the operation occurred for an 80-year-old who has other health issues.”

Arsenal’s winger, Bukayo Saka, has eulogised Barcelona’s youngster, Lamine Yamal, describing him as “not normal”.

This is a way of praising the remarkable feats Yamal has accomplished at just 17 years of age.

Bukayo Saka’s admiration for Yamal stems from the staggering performances the young Spaniard has delivered since breaking into the first team.

Although he won’t celebrate his 18th birthday until the summer, Lamine Yamal has already made an impressive 100 appearances for FC Barcelona.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Bukayo Saka expressed his awe, stating, “He’s top. Honestly, doing what he is doing at his age, what can you say, he’s unreal.

“It’s not normal. No one does it. I don’t think I’ve seen that level for a 17-year-old, so credit to him.”

Yamal’s prowess was on full display during a thrilling Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, where he was instrumental in a captivating 3-3 draw, further making his case as one of the brightest talents in world football.

Remarkably, Yamal’s career trajectory has already put him ahead of legendary figures Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at a similar stage.

By achieving 49 combined goals and assists through his first 100 games, Yamal has surpassed Messi, who had 55 contributions, by reaching that milestone at nearly 21 years of age.

In stark contrast, 19-year-old Ronaldo had mustered only 26 goals and assists in his opening century of professional matches, underscoring just how exceptional Yamal’s early career has been.

Just last week, Barcelona won their Copa del Rey final over rival Real Madrid.

Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal had an amazing match, providing two assists to help his team secure a 3 – 2 extra-time win.

Real Madrid, in heartbreaking fashion, lost 3-2 to Barcelona in extra time of the Copa Del Rey final at La Paluja Stadium in Seville on Saturday night.

Real Madrid went behind after a goal from Pedri in the first half, but quickly switched on in the second when they scored two through Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni.

They then went behind once again when Jules Kounde scored the winner in the 116th minute after Ferran Torres’ equaliser.

It was a night worth celebrating for Lamine Yamal as Barcelona won their Copa del Rey final over rival Real Madrid.

Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal had an amazing match, providing two assists to help his team secure a 3 – 2 extra-time win.

Real Madrid, in heartbreaking fashion, lost 3-2 to Barcelona in extra time of the Copa Del Rey final at La Paluja Stadium in Seville on Saturday night.

Real Madrid went behind after a goal from Pedri in the first half, but quickly switched on in the second when they scored two through Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni.

They then went behind once again when Jules Kounde scored the winner in the 116th minute after Ferran Torres’ equaliser.

Attacker Lamine Yamal plays for Barcelona and has played in the vast majority of their LaLiga matches in 2024/2025, making 30 appearances overall and accumulating 2,451 minutes of playing time.

He has been selected in the starting XI in 27 of these appearances across their 33 fixtures and has been used as a substitute on three occasions.

The last LaLiga appearance that Yamal made came on April 22 for Barcelona versus Mallorca; a meeting that he played 86 minutes in during a 1-0 win.

The attacker has scored six LaLiga goals this season, whilst he also ranks first for LaLiga assists this season, having created 12 goals for his team-mates. He has amassed three yellow cards.

It was versus Atlético Madrid on March 16 when Yamal last scored, netting in a 4-2 win. His opening goal of the campaign came in the 2-1 victory against Athletic Club on August 24.

Next up in the league for Barcelona is a trip to Real Valladolid on May 3.

In last season’s LaLiga, Yamal played in 37 games for Barcelona, scored five goals and provided five assists.

Before moving to Barcelona in April 2023, Yamal made three league appearances in total at Barcelona II.

The attacker debuted in a LaLiga fixture for Barcelona on April 29, 2023 as a substitute versus Real Betis aged 15 years and 290 days. In his LaLiga career overall, he has played 68 times in the competition, with 11 goals scored and 17 assists.