Rashidi Yekini was a Nigerian professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest African strikers of all time. He was born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria, and died on May 4, 2012.
Yekini had a prolific career as a footballer and is best known for his time with the Nigerian national team. He was Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 37 goals in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles. Yekini’s most memorable moment came during the 1994 FIFA World Cup when he scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal in the tournament’s history.
Here are ten things you might not know about the late legendary Nigerian striker who marked a posthumous 60th birthday today.
1. Yekini was born October 23, 1963, in Kaduna State to parents from Kwara State.
2. Yekini earned 58 caps and scored 37 goals for the Nigerian national team, making him the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.
3. Yekini was famous for his performance during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal in a FIFA World Cup tournament
4. He was married to three wives and had three daughters: Yemisi, Omoyemi, and Damilola.
5. Yekini had a club career with clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland.
Read also Google Doodle celebrates iconic goalscorer Rashidi Yekini at 60
6. The legendary Yekini died on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48
7. Yekini was part of the team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
8. His iconic goal celebration, where he holds the net in jubilation is fresh in the memories of football fans worldwide.
9. Yekini began his professional football career with the Nigerian club UNTL Kaduna in 1981
10. Yekini became the first Nigerian footballer to win the African Footballer of the Year Award in 1993
