Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has condemned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) for neglecting late Peter Rufai and his family.
Speaking at Rufai’s service of songs in Lagos on Thursday, West expressed anger over what he described as the authorities’ repeated failure to honour Peter Rufai, both in life and in death.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying to solicit within our groups, just to ask for money? It is madness,” the ex-Inter Milan star said in a video shared by News Central.
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He added that the NFF and LSFA had “dropped the bulk” on Rufai’s grieving family.
“What kind of nation is this? With the type of example they have shown with Shofoluwe, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini… I’ll never advise my son to put his feet for this country,” West lamented.
Rufai’s legacy in Nigerian football
Rufai, a legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, died on July 3 at the age of 61 after a long illness. He was Nigeria’s No.1 at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, helping the team reach the Round of 16 on both occasions, and was part of the victorious AFCON 1994 squad.
West and Rufai, who were both discovered by the late coach Monday Sinclair, played together for the national team in the 1990s.
Career and final days
The late goalkeeper made his international debut in December 1981 and had a stellar career that spanned over 14 years in the national team. He played for club sides in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
