Google Doodle is honoring the 60th birthday of Rashidi Yekini, the legendary Nigerian footballer known for his exceptional goal-scoring abilities and nicknamed the “Goalsfather.” Yekini was born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria, and his journey from a challenging early life marked by homelessness and poverty to football stardom is celebrated.
Driven by his passion for football, Yekini initially worked as a welder and mechanic before being noticed by scouts. He began his football career with ‘UNTL FC’ in Kaduna in 1981 and later played for the Shooting Stars, where he established an impressive record of 45 goals in 53 games.
In 1983, Yekini’s outstanding 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 crucial role in leading the Shooting Stars to the finals of the African Champions Cup.
Yekini’s football career extended beyond Nigeria as he played for various clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland. Notably, he received 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.JAMB Portal
As a key 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 in the World Cup, remains a memorable moment in football history
Throughout his career, Yekini continued to represent Nigeria for over 14 years, participating in the 1998 World Cup and scoring a total of 37 goals in 58 games for the national team, setting a record for the most goals scored for Nigeria.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
