Today is Rashidi Yekini’s 60th birthday. He was born on October 23rd, 1963 and passed away on May 4th, 2012 (he was 48 years old at the time).
Yekini represented Nigeria at 5 African Nations Cup competitions (1984, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994), winning one bronze medal, three silver medals and one gold medal. He also represented Nigeria at two World Cups, USA ’94 and France ’98.
He is the highest goal scorer ever for Nigeria’s men’s senior national team (the Super/Green Eagles) with 37 goals in total.
Yekini was the highest goal scorer in Portuguese club football in the 1992/1993 season and he was also the highest goal scorer in the Primiera Liga in the 1993/1994 season.
Yekini played for IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, with whom he got to the final of the African Champions Cup (now known as the African Champions League) in 1984 (they lost to Zamalek of Egypt). He later played for Abiola Babes (one of the two millionaire clubs in Nigeria at the time) before leaving Nigeria to play professional football.
He played for Africa Sports in the Ivory Coast, Vitoria Setubal in Portugal (with whom he achieved his greatest success), Olympiakos of Greece, Sporting Gijon in Spain and F.C. Zurich in Switzerland before returning to Nigeria.
After returning to Nigeria, he played for Julius Berger and Gateway FC before retiring in 2005.
On his 60th (posthumous) birthday, we take a look at the amazing feats and goals scored by the goalsfather. See below for videos and pictures of his exploits.
Picture 1) Rashidi Yekini after scoring Nigeria’s first ever World Cup goal (against Bulgaria at USA ’94).
Picture 2) Google doodle celebrating Yekini’s 60th birthday.
