Sports
NPFL in Grief over Rufai’s Death
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has expressed grief at the death of former Stationery Stores and Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, describing his death as another huge loss to the nation’s football ecosystem.
Rufai was reported to have died on Thursday from a yet to be disclosed ailment.
Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman, while describing Rufai’s demise as saddening, said that he was a good Ambassador of the league and an inspiration to the younger players.
“Rufai was a gentleman who was always willing to support the league whenever he was invited to grace our events such as workshop and fixture draws.
“To the younger players, he was the big brother they all looked up to because like them, he played in the domestic league before seeking greener pastures in Europe.
“He returned home after retirement and has been helping our young ones learn the art of goalkeeping through his annual booth camps”, Elegbeleye recalled.
The League chairman offered commiserations to the immediate family and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) adding that, “the family and Nigeria has lost a legend”.
Rufai first kept for the national team in a friendly match in December 1981, and would latern be part of the squad that won Africa Cup of Nations silver in 1984 and 1988, before Nigeria swept clinched its second continental glory in Tunisia in 1994. He was the first-choice goalkeeper in the three championships.
Ever colourful, charismatic and disciplined player, the late Rufai in his lifetime, also kept goal for Nigeria in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. His post-retirement years have been spent discovering and mentoring young players.
Sports
Montage Community Football Tourney Registration Ends October 30
Cyril Ogar
Registration for the 2026 edition of the Montage Community Football Tournament will close on Friday, October 30, organisers have announced.
The tournament coordinator, Mr Raphael Ekpang, disclosed this on Thursday, urging interested teams across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take advantage of the remaining days to register.
Ekpang said registration had been ongoing since Monday, encouraging eligible teams to complete the process before the deadline.
The tournament, themed “Montage FM 99.7: Empowering Youth, Uniting Communities Through Football,” is scheduled to kick off on November 3, 2026, with playoffs across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The grand finale will hold on December 5, 2026, at the Old Parade Ground, Garki Area 10, Abuja, where the top four teams will compete for first-, second- and third-place honours.
A total of 48 teams will participate in the competition, with eight teams representing each of the six Area Councils.
The participating teams will compete for cash prizes worth over ₦2 million and other valuable rewards.
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