Rashidi Yekini was a legendary Nigerian footballer, and his life story is an inspiring tale of a prolific football career.
Born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria, Yekini had a successful club career in Nigeria and abroad. He started his professional career with Abiola Babes in Nigeria and then moved on to play for African Sports in Ivory Coast.
In 1990, he made a significant move to Europe, signing with Vitória Setúbal in Portugal. During his time with Vitória Setúbal, he had a notable impact, earning recognition for his goal-scoring abilities.
He later played for clubs like Olympiacos in Greece, Sporting Gijón in Spain, and Bizerte in Tunisia.
Yekini was known for his physical presence, incredible heading ability, and prolific goal-scoring record during his club career.
He represented the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, with distinction. He earned over 50 caps and scored numerous goals for the national team.
Career Highlight
Yekini’s most iconic moment in international football came during the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. He scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal during a match against Bulgaria. His memorable goal celebration, where he held the net and screamed with joy, became an enduring image in Nigerian football history.
Yekini was the top scorer in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) in the 1993–1994 season while playing for Shooting Stars FC (now 3SC).
Yekini was named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
During 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.
Tragically, Rasheed Yekini faced personal and health challenges in his later years, and he struggled with mental health issues. He passed away on May 4, 2012, in Ibadan, Nigeria, at the age of 48.
Rasheed Yekini remains a beloved and iconic figure in Nigerian and African football and is remembered for his goal-scoring prowess and dedication to the sport.
By Fattyma Ibrahim