Nigeria, July 5 -- Long before Peter Rufai became a household name in Nigerian football, winning the hearts of fans with his acrobatic saves and calm command between the posts, he had already earned a nickname that would follow him throughout his legendary career: Dodo Mayana.

But how did the name come about? In one of his final public interviews with the Popular Side Podcast, Rufai took time to share the origin story behind the now-iconic moniker - a name that, as he revealed, came from a mixture of humility, admiration, and an unforgettable moment in Portugal.

The journey began in the early 1980s, when a young Rufai was drafted into the national team camp.

Surrounded by goalkeeping greats like Emmanuel Okala, Best Ogedengbe, and Pete...