+12 things to know about the first Nigerian footballer to bag the ‘African Footballer of the Year.’
Google Doodle celebrates the 60th birthday of the iconic Nigerian football player and all-time top scorer, Rashidi Yekini. His journey to stardom was one filled with challenges and poverty, as a young Yekini worked as a welder and mechanic to make money.
The doodle began with a biography of the Kaduna-born striker: “Today’s Doodle celebrates iconic Nigerian footballer Rashidi Yekini, an accomplished forward nicknamed the “Goalsfather” for his ability to sneak shots by the keeper. On this day in 1963, he was born in Kaduna, Nigeria.”
He started his career in front of scouts, and in 1981, he joined his first club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna, marking the beginning of a remarkable career. Yekini also joined the Shooting Stars, scoring 45 goals in 53 games.
His exploits took him beyond the continent’s shores playing for Victoria Setubal, Olympicos, Sporting Gijon, and Zurich, before returning to the country to play for Julius Berger and Gateway United.
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Yekini remains indelible in the hearts of Nigerians, as he scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal at the FIFA World Cup in the 3-0 win over Bulgaria in 1994. Yekini clutched the net in ecstasy.
He scored 37 goals and remains Nigeria’s all-time top scorer. He was also voted African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Yekini died on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48.
12 things to know about Rashidi Yekini
(1) He was born October 23, 1963, in Kaduna State to Yoruba parents from Kwara State.
(2) Yekini started as a welder and mechanic before he honoured his football calling, joining his first football club, ‘UNTL FC’ in Kaduna.
(3) In 1982, he joined the Shooting Stars, where he remained for two years and scored 45 goals in 53 games.
(4) In 1993, Yekini became the first Nigerian footballer to bag the ‘African Footballer of the Year.’
(5) In 1984, Yekini led the Shooting Stars to the finals of the African Champions Cup.
(6) The late soccer star also played for international clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland.
(7) In the 1993-94 season, during his time at Portugal’s Vitória Setúbal, Yekini clinched the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) for being the top scorer in the league. He scored an impressive 21 goals
(8) Yekini played a vital role in Nigeria’s national team, the ‘Super Eagles,’ qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. He scored the first goal of the match.
(9) He remained with the Super Eagles for over 14 years, making another World Cup appearance in 1998.
(10) During his time with the Super Eagles, Yekini scored 37 goals in 58 games for Nigeria.
(11) He was married to three wives and had three daughters: Yemisi, Omoyemi, and Damilola.
(12) Yekini died in Ibadan, Oyo State, on May 4, 2012, at age 48.
