Latest news with #SuperEagles
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Court ban Maduka Okoye for two months after match-fixing allegation
Udinese goalkeeper and former Nigerian Super Eagles top goalie Maduka Okoye don chop two months ban afta dem investigate am for match-fixing. Court sanction di Udinese goalkeeper with a two-month ban after dem bin charge am with alleged match-fixing, dem say e bin allegedly allow dem to book am on purpose during one match against Lazio for di 2023-2024 season. Dem say na after one agreement with one of di bettors; di booking hapun for di 18th minute of di second half of di game for time wasting. E bin dey face four years suspension but di Italian Football Federation, federal prosecutor office on Tuesday drop all charges of sports fraud against am. Okoye go begin serve im suspension in August 18, di day Udinese go face Carrarese in di first round of di Coppa Italia (2025-2026) season. 'No sporting offence dey committed' - Udinese Udinese Calcio don release press statement for dia website, wey tok say di tribunal clear Okoye of sporting offences. "Di FIGC National Federal Tribunal, meeting today to discuss di referral of Maduka Okoye, rule out any involvement of di player in conduct wey we consider unsporting misconduct, fully accepting di lawyers arguments," di statement tok. "In di trial, we drop all allegations of alleged unsporting misconduct, and di decision to impose two-month ban na base on di violation of di general principle of fair play (Article 4 of the Federal Sports Justice Code). "Di club express dia satisfaction wit di player proven complete non-involvement in di infamous match-fixing theory. Di club dey full support Okoye, wey dey wait for di ruling reasons. "Udinese Calcio reiterate dia full confidence in Maduka proper conduct." Di statement tok. About Maduka Okoye Maduka Emilio Okoye na professional goalkeeper wit Nigeria Super Eagles and Udinese club for Italy. Dem bron am in August 28, 1999 for Düsseldorf in Germany. Im mama na German while im papa na Nigerian. Okoye papa na from Enugu state in Nigeria. Di 25-year-old bin fully join di Nigeria team in 2019 afta e show im performance during di Nigeria match wit Brazil for 2019. Di 6ft 6in tall goalkeeper start im career for Germany for Borussia Monchengladbach, e also play for Bayer Leverkusen and Fortuna Dusseldorf before e come move to Italy to join Udinese Calcio in 2023. E win Sparta Player of di Season award for di 2020-2021 season during im time wit Eredivis and help di Dutch team eighth in di Dutch top flight. At di age of 18, Okoye bin dey di eye of di den Nigeria Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr since e play for Germany Fortuna Düsseldorf under-19 team.
Free Malaysia Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies aged 61
Popularly known as Dodomayana, Peter Rufai earned 65 caps for Nigeria and featured at the 1994 and 1998 World Cup finals. (AFP pic) ABUJA : Former Nigeria international goalkeeper Peter Rufai has died aged 61 following an illness, the national football federation said today. Popularly known as Dodomayana, Rufai earned 65 caps for Nigeria and featured at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He was also part of the Super Eagles squad when Nigeria won a second Africa Cup of Nations trophy in Tunisia in 1994, beating Zambia 2-1. 'We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,' the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said in a post on social platform X. 'Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond,' NFF said. In a statement the NFF said Rufai had 'died in Lagos following a period of illness'. NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi, said Rufai's death was 'really shocking'. Rufai played for several Nigerian clubs before he moved to play overseas in Benin, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies at 61
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, has died at the age of 61. The Nigerian Football Federation announced the death Thursday. Advertisement Rufai was widely regarded as one of the best African goalkeepers ever and had a 20-year playing career that included stints at clubs in Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Nigerian federation wrote on X that the legacy of Rufai, whose nickname was Dodo Mayana, would live on 'between the sticks and beyond.' Local media said he had suffered from a brief, undisclosed illness. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also paid tribute to Rufai in a statement Friday. (asterisk)I recall with fond memories the heroic contributions of Peter Rufai in the historic victory of the Super Eagles at the 1994 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations," Tinubu said. Advertisement He praised Rufai for "bringing honor to the nation and opening a new window of opportunities for young footballers in Nigeria.' Rufai was part of Nigeria's 1994 World Cup squad in the U.S. which helped put the country's football on the global map, alongside the late Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi, Uche Okafor, Wilfred Agbonavbare and Thompson Oliha. He also represented Nigeria at 1998 World Cup in France. He was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to score a goal for his team internationally, in a 1993 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia. Rufai, the first Nigerian player to come from a royal family, had more than 60 caps for the Super Eagles. After retiring from professional football in 2000, he established Staruf Football Academy where he coached young players. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies at 61
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, has died at the age of 61. The Nigerian Football Federation announced the death Thursday. Rufai was widely regarded as one of the best African goalkeepers ever and had a 20-year playing career that included stints at clubs in Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Nigerian federation wrote on X that the legacy of Rufai, whose nickname was Dodo Mayana, would live on 'between the sticks and beyond.' Local media said he had suffered from a brief, undisclosed illness. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also paid tribute to Rufai in a statement Friday. (asterisk)I recall with fond memories the heroic contributions of Peter Rufai in the historic victory of the Super Eagles at the 1994 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations,' Tinubu said. He praised Rufai for 'bringing honor to the nation and opening a new window of opportunities for young footballers in Nigeria.' Rufai was part of Nigeria's 1994 World Cup squad in the U.S. which helped put the country's football on the global map, alongside the late Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi, Uche Okafor, Wilfred Agbonavbare and Thompson Oliha. He also represented Nigeria at 1998 World Cup in France. He was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to score a goal for his team internationally, in a 1993 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia. Rufai, the first Nigerian player to come from a royal family, had more than 60 caps for the Super Eagles. After retiring from professional football in 2000, he established Staruf Football Academy where he coached young players. ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies at 61
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, has died at the age of 61. The Nigerian Football Federation announced the death Thursday. Rufai was widely regarded as one of the best African goalkeepers ever and had a 20-year playing career that included stints at clubs in Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Nigerian federation wrote on X that the legacy of Rufai, whose nickname was Dodo Mayana, would live on 'between the sticks and beyond.' Local media said he had suffered from a brief, undisclosed illness. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also paid tribute to Rufai in a statement Friday. (asterisk)I recall with fond memories the heroic contributions of Peter Rufai in the historic victory of the Super Eagles at the 1994 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations,' Tinubu said. He praised Rufai for 'bringing honor to the nation and opening a new window of opportunities for young footballers in Nigeria.' Rufai was part of Nigeria's 1994 World Cup squad in the U.S. which helped put the country's football on the global map, alongside the late Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi, Uche Okafor, Wilfred Agbonavbare and Thompson Oliha. He also represented Nigeria at 1998 World Cup in France. He was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to score a goal for his team internationally, in a 1993 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia. Rufai, the first Nigerian player to come from a royal family, had more than 60 caps for the Super Eagles. After retiring from professional football in 2000, he established Staruf Football Academy where he coached young players. ___ AP soccer:
