Remembering Yekini, Nigeria’s first ever World Cup goal scorer on his posthumous birthday

Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s legendary football striker, was born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria.

He began his football career playing for local clubs in Nigeria before moving to Ivory Coast’s Africa Sports in 1984.

Yekini’s impressive goal-scoring ability earned him a transfer to Portugal’s Vitória de Setúbal in 1987.

Yekini’s most notable stint was with Olympiakos in Greece, where he won the Greek League and Cup in 1992.

He also played for Sporting Gijón in Spain and Istanbulspor in Turkey.

At the international level, Yekini made his debut for the Super Eagles in 1984 and went on to earn 58 caps, scoring 37 goals.

His most iconic moment came during the 1994 World Cup, where he scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria.

Yekini’s performance at the 1994 African Cup of Nations was phenomenal, winning the Golden Boot and MVP as Nigeria claimed the title. He also participated in the 1990 and 1992 AFCON tournaments.

Yekini’s achievements include AFCON 1994 champion, AFCON 1994 Golden Boot and MVP, Nigerian Footballer of the Year 1992, 1993, Greek League and Cup winner with Olympiakos 1992 and Nigerian Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Yekini’s legacy extends beyond his playing career. He inspired a generation of Nigerian footballers, including Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and Segun Odegbami.

Despite facing personal struggles after retirement, particularly with a rumoured mental health challenge, Yekini’s love for football remained unwavering.

His passing on May 4, 2012, was met with an outpouring of tributes from the football community.

The Nigerian Football Federation named the National Team’s training center after him.

Rashidi Yekini will forever be remembered as a legendary striker, an iconic figure, and a national hero.

Some interesting facts about Rashidi Yekini

*He scored over 200 goals in his professional career.
*Yekini was known for his speed, skill, and powerful shots.
*He was nicknamed Goalsfather by Nigerian fans.
*Yekini played for 11 different clubs during his career.
*He was the first Nigerian to win the AFCON Golden Boot.

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