My OperaOBITUARY : RASHIDI YEKINI
Saturday, May 5, 2012 8:07:26 PM
Obituary: Rashidi Yekini
(1963-2012)
Nigerian football has lost a
legend in the form of the
former Super Eagles hero,
RASHEED YEKINI OF NIGERIA Remembered by many for his
exploits at the 1994 World Cup
in the USA, Rashidi Yekini will
forever have a place in the
hearts and minds of Super
Eagles and other football fans
following Nigeria's first ever
goal in the tournament,
The former Nigeria international
passed away on Friday in
Ibadan after suffering from
mental illness for the past two
years.
Eagles' jealous of Yekini at
USA 94 - Oliseh
Coca-Cola Memorable
Celebrations 8: Rashidi
Yekini Lets It All Out For
Nigeria As He Creates
History
World Cup 2010: Nigerian
Players Lack Commitment -
Rashidi Yekini
The ex-striker, who was only 48,
is Nigeria's all-time record
goalscorer after netting 37
times in 58 matches for the
Super Eagles.
His body will be taken to Offa to
be buried, Yekini's home town in
Kwara State.
Born in Kaduna on October 23,
1963, Yekini will be famously
remembered for his iconic goal
celebration after scoring
Nigeria's first-ever World Cup
goal against Bulgaria in the 1994
edition of the competition in the
USA.
He latched on to a cross from
Finidi George to score the first
ever goal for Nigeria at the
World Cup, prompting Yekini to
run into the goal post, grabbing
the net, and shaking it endlessly
while screaming to the high
heavens in celebration of what
would be an iconic goal for the
country's football.
Yekini began his career at UNTL
Kaduna in 1981 before spending
the next nine years in his native
Africa. Yekini then moved to
Europe, where he enjoyed a
successful four-year spell at
Vitoria Setubal in Portugal
where he was the Primeira
Liga's top scorer in the 1993-94
season.
RASHIDI YEKINI'S MAJOR
CAREER STATS
Club
Nigeria
(1984-1998)
Vitoria Setubal
(1990 - 1994)
Olympiacos
(1994 - 1995)
Sporting Gijon
(1995 - 1996)
Vitoria Setubal
(1997)
Zurich
(1997 -1998)
Games
58
108
4
14
14
28
Goals
37
90
2
3
3
1
He later enjoyed playing in
Greece, Spain, Switzerland and
Saudi Arabia before eventually
calling time on his playing career
in 2003 with Nigerian club, Julius
Berger.
Yekini made a brief turnaround
on his retirement in 2005, when
at 41 years old, he joined
Gateway United for a short spell.
A player who was a pioneer for
Nigerian football in many ways,
his time in Europe opened doors
for many players that followed
behind him, and he was a role
model for many, including
players who would have been
considered among his peers at
the time.
Yekini not only scored Nigeria's
first World Cup goal, he also
become the first Nigerian to win
the African Player of the Year
award in 1993, providing Super
Eagles fans with hope that
Nigerian football had much to
offer and would be a force on
the continent in the year to
follow.
He added to that achievement
and realised that prophecy of
success by helping Nigeria to
win the Africa Cup of Nations
title in 1994. Yekini scored five
goals to win the top scorer
award at that tournament, and
is the only player to have won
the Afcon title as a reigning
African Player of the Year ever
since.
His record-breaking antics will surely be remembered
(1963-2012)
Nigerian football has lost a
legend in the form of the
former Super Eagles hero,
RASHEED YEKINI OF NIGERIA Remembered by many for his
exploits at the 1994 World Cup
in the USA, Rashidi Yekini will
forever have a place in the
hearts and minds of Super
Eagles and other football fans
following Nigeria's first ever
goal in the tournament,
The former Nigeria international
passed away on Friday in
Ibadan after suffering from
mental illness for the past two
years.
Eagles' jealous of Yekini at
USA 94 - Oliseh
Coca-Cola Memorable
Celebrations 8: Rashidi
Yekini Lets It All Out For
Nigeria As He Creates
History
World Cup 2010: Nigerian
Players Lack Commitment -
Rashidi Yekini
The ex-striker, who was only 48,
is Nigeria's all-time record
goalscorer after netting 37
times in 58 matches for the
Super Eagles.
His body will be taken to Offa to
be buried, Yekini's home town in
Kwara State.
Born in Kaduna on October 23,
1963, Yekini will be famously
remembered for his iconic goal
celebration after scoring
Nigeria's first-ever World Cup
goal against Bulgaria in the 1994
edition of the competition in the
USA.
He latched on to a cross from
Finidi George to score the first
ever goal for Nigeria at the
World Cup, prompting Yekini to
run into the goal post, grabbing
the net, and shaking it endlessly
while screaming to the high
heavens in celebration of what
would be an iconic goal for the
country's football.
Yekini began his career at UNTL
Kaduna in 1981 before spending
the next nine years in his native
Africa. Yekini then moved to
Europe, where he enjoyed a
successful four-year spell at
Vitoria Setubal in Portugal
where he was the Primeira
Liga's top scorer in the 1993-94
season.
RASHIDI YEKINI'S MAJOR
CAREER STATS
Club
Nigeria
(1984-1998)
Vitoria Setubal
(1990 - 1994)
Olympiacos
(1994 - 1995)
Sporting Gijon
(1995 - 1996)
Vitoria Setubal
(1997)
Zurich
(1997 -1998)
Games
58
108
4
14
14
28
Goals
37
90
2
3
3
1
He later enjoyed playing in
Greece, Spain, Switzerland and
Saudi Arabia before eventually
calling time on his playing career
in 2003 with Nigerian club, Julius
Berger.
Yekini made a brief turnaround
on his retirement in 2005, when
at 41 years old, he joined
Gateway United for a short spell.
A player who was a pioneer for
Nigerian football in many ways,
his time in Europe opened doors
for many players that followed
behind him, and he was a role
model for many, including
players who would have been
considered among his peers at
the time.
Yekini not only scored Nigeria's
first World Cup goal, he also
become the first Nigerian to win
the African Player of the Year
award in 1993, providing Super
Eagles fans with hope that
Nigerian football had much to
offer and would be a force on
the continent in the year to
follow.
He added to that achievement
and realised that prophecy of
success by helping Nigeria to
win the Africa Cup of Nations
title in 1994. Yekini scored five
goals to win the top scorer
award at that tournament, and
is the only player to have won
the Afcon title as a reigning
African Player of the Year ever
since.
His record-breaking antics will surely be remembered
