Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai was admitted to hospital after being taken ill on Monday night.
The 49-year-old, who represented Nigeria at the 1994 and 1998 Fifa World Cup, sent chills down the spines of many soccer fans when they learnt of his predicament. Many made calls to inquire of his situation while journalists scampered to find out the state of the former number one goalie.
His brother, Bruce, said he had slumped and his breathing had been “very laboured” before he went to hospital.
Peter Rufai
The former Eagles captain opened his eyes for the first time on Tuesday after he slumped in his Adeniran Ogunsanya office in Lagos.
“He is out of coma and he can now eat and he recognises everyone around. He is fine,” the brother of the ex-international Bruce confirmed. Rufai is now making efforts to communicate, the brother added.
“It was wrenching and scary when he slumped and suddenly went into a coma,” Bruce told BBC Sport.
“It all happened very fast, we just saw a physically and mentally fit man crumble to the ground.”
Bruce said his brother has made progress since he was first taken to hospital.
He said: “After several hours he’s come around, is recognising faces and realised he’s in hospital, so he’s definitely better than he was on Tuesday morning.
“Doctors failed to diagnose anything and we have a strong feeling it stems from a family bereavement.
“He appears to have suffered a terrible stress from the shock of losing our mum but we don’t know how long he’ll be in hospital.”
His mother Christiana Rufai died last week at the age of 78.
Rufai was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper when they won the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia and also when they qualified for a first-ever World Cup.
Regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers to come out of Africa, nicknamed ‘Dodo Manyana’, he played professionally in Benin, Belgium, Holland, Spain and Portugal.
Since he quit active football, he has worked with the country’s Olympic side and has been running his football academy in the city of Lagos.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), wished him a “speedy recovery”, adding they had been informed he had been in hospital by a family friend.
Spokesman Ademola Olajire said: “Everybody at football house would like to send our best wishes to our legend Peter Rufai following news that he is recovering in hospital.
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