NaijNaira
Former Super Eagles star Taribo West has come hard on the Nigeria Football Federation and the Lagos State Government, accusing both bodies of neglecting the family of the late goalkeeper Peter Rufai – www.naijnaira.com reports.
According to Daily Sun, the outspoken ex-defender expressed his anger during Rufai’s funeral service in Lagos on Friday, where he said it was shameful that the family had to rely on friends and colleagues for support.
In a passionate outburst, West declared, “It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family. Could you imagine that the family would be crying to solicit within our groups, just to ask for money? It is madness.”
He went as far as saying he would never encourage his son to play for Nigeria, given how Rufai was treated in death.
The former Inter Milan defender revealed how personal the loss was to him, stating, “My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body.”
West questioned why a man who gave so much to Nigerian football could not be given the dignity of a properly supported burial.
But his claims did not go unanswered as the Nigeria Football Federation quickly issued a statement rejecting his accusations.
The federation insisted that it not only provided financial assistance but also sent a delegation to represent the body at Rufai’s funeral service.
In its post on X, the NFF wrote, “The Nigeria Football Federation stood in solidarity with two of our legends as they were laid to rest.”
The statement continued, “Similarly, at the funeral mass of Peter Rufai in Lagos, the NFF also offered financial support to his family. The delegation included Executive Committee Member Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi and Dr. Ademola Olajire.”
The federation also mentioned that the burial of another Nigerian great, Christian Chukwu, received direct financial backing from the NFF earlier this year.
Meanwhile, former Nigerian international Waidi Akanni also disputed West’s claims, revealing that the Lagos State Government gave ₦15 million to Rufai’s family, while other state associations and individuals contributed.
Despite these counterclaims, West’s criticism has opened up wider conversations about how Nigeria treats its football legends after their playing days.
Peter Rufai, famously called “Dodo Mayana,” was one of the finest goalkeepers in Nigeria’s history and a key figure in the country’s golden era of the 1990s.
He was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and also represented Nigeria at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups.
Rufai died on July 3, 2025, after a prolonged illness, and he was finally laid to rest at Ikoyi Cemetery following a funeral mass at the Catholic Church of Visitation in Festac Town, Lagos.
