When Nigeria won 6-0 against Ethiopia on 24 July 1993, the penalty was taken by the goalkeeper, and Rufai became the first man in Super Eagles gloves to score for his country. Dodo Mayana to the crowd, he kept goal in the 2-1 final win over Zambia that took the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, started Nigeria's campaigns at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, and finished on 65 caps. Career record: 65 caps and 1 goals for Nigeria; club career at Go Ahead Eagles, S.C. Farense, Hércules CF.
| 1980–1984 | Stationery Stores |
| 1986–1987 | AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé |
| 1987–1991 | K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen |
| 1991–1993 | K.S.K. Beveren |
| 1993–1994 | Go Ahead Eagles |
| 1994–1997 | S.C. Farense |
| 1997–1999 | Deportivo de A Coruña |
| 1997–1997 | Hércules CF |
| 1999–2000 | Gil Vicente |
| Nigeria | 65 caps, 1 goals |
Nigeria legends whose careers overlapped Rufai's
One rank above: Tijani Babangida at #24.
One rank below: Henry Nwosu at #26.
Nigeria's editorial top five: Jay-Jay Okocha · Nwankwo Kanu · Rashidi Yekini · Finidi George · Sunday Oliseh.