23rd October, 2023
By Victoria Oluwayemi
Google Doodle, on Monday, paid tribute to Rashidi Yekini, the legendary Nigerian footballer, on what would have been his 60th birthday.
Known for his remarkable goal-scoring ability and affectionately dubbed the “Goalsfather,” Yekini’s journey from a challenging early life marked by homelessness and poverty to football stardom is commemorated.
Yekini, born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria, rose from humble beginnings, initially working as a welder and mechanic before being discovered by scouts. His football career kicked off with ‘UNTL FC’ in Kaduna in 1981, and later, he gained recognition playing for the Shooting Stars, where he achieved an impressive record of 45 goals in 53 games.
In 1983, Yekini’s extraordinary goal-scoring prowess earned him the title of ‘African Footballer of the Year,’ becoming the first Nigerian player to achieve this prestigious honour. The following year, he played a pivotal role in guiding the Shooting Stars to the finals of the African Champions Cup.
Beyond Nigeria, Yekini showcased his talents with football clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland. Notably, he secured the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) in the 1993-94 season as the league’s top-scoring player while playing for the Portuguese team Vitória Setúbal.
As a crucial figure for Nigeria’s national team, the ‘Super Eagles,’ Yekini played a pivotal 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 a cherished moment in football history.
Yekini continued his football career for over 14 years with the Super Eagles, participating in the 1998 World Cup and amassing a total of 37 goals in 58 games for Nigeria—a record for the most goals scored for the country.
The Google Doodle features a biography of the Kaduna-born striker, stating, “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.”
His journey began in front of scouts, and in 1981, he joined his first club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna, marking the commencement of a remarkable career. Yekini also joined the Shooting Stars, where he scored 45 goals in 53 games. His talents took him beyond Africa, playing for clubs like Victoria Setubal, Olympicos, Sporting Gijon, and Zurich, before returning to Nigeria to play for Julius Berger and Gateway United.
Yekini remains an enduring figure in the hearts of Nigerians, as he scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal at the FIFA World Cup in the 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in 1994, with his ecstatic celebration involving clutching the net. He scored 37 goals and remains Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.
He was also honored as African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Yekini died on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48.