ABUJA: Former Nigeria international goalkeeper Peter Rufai has died aged 61 following an illness, the national football federation said on Thursday.

Popularly known as Dodomayana, Rufai earned 65 caps for Nigeria and featuredatthe1994 and1998 FIFA World Cup finals.

He also was part of the Super Eagles squad when Nigeria won a second Africa Cup of Nations trophy in Tunisia in 1994, beating Zambia 2-1.

NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi, said Rufai`s death was `really shocking`.

Rufai played for several Nigerian clubs before moving to Europe.-AFP