On Monday, Google Doodle honored legendary Nigerian footballer Rashidi Yekini.
Rashidi Yekini, celebrated for his goal-scoring prowess would have been 60 years today. The Goalsfather born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria, overcame a challenging early life marked by homelessness and poverty to achieve football stardom.
Career Beginnings
Driven by his passion for football, Yekini worked as a welder and mechanic before scouts noticed his talent. He joined his first football club, ‘UNTL FC’ in Kaduna, in 1981, and later played for the Shooting Stars, where he scored an impressive 45 goals in 53 games.
In 1983, Yekini’s exceptional goal-scoring abilities earned him the title of ‘African Footballer of the Year,’ making him the first Nigerian player to achieve this honor. The following year, he played a pivotal role in leading the Shooting Stars to the finals of the African Champions Cup.
Yekini’s talent extended beyond Nigeria, as he played for various football clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland. He notably secured the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) in the 1993-94 season as the league’s top-scoring player while with the Portuguese team Vitória Setúbal.
Rashidi Yekini: Key Figure
A key figure for Nigeria’s national team, the ‘Super Eagles,’ Yekini played a crucial role in their qualification for the 1994 World Cup. His iconic celebration, where he clutched the net with both arms and shed tears of joy after scoring Nigeria’s first goal, remains etched in football history.
Continuing his football career for over 14 years with the Super Eagles, Yekini participated in the 1998 World Cup, scoring a total of 37 goals in 58 games for Nigeria—a record for the most goals scored for the country.
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