Nigeria’s football legend and arguably one the best footballer ever to come from the African continent Rashidi Yekini is dead.
The death of the football great, who started his playing career at UNTL Kaduna (1981-1982) has been confirmed by ex-internationals Mutiu Adepoju and Ike Shoromu, team mates of the deceased at the national team.
He died at an hospital Friday 4th May in Ibadan.
Yekini aged 49 scored Nigeria’s first goal ever at the USA’94 World Cup amongst numerous exploits.
The native of Kwara State, who retired gloriously to Ibadan, a city where he once played for Shooting Stars FC (1982-1984) was rumoured to have been in delirium for the past two years. Often sighted walking barefooted , he was at a time reported to have given out all his property as a philanthropic act.
Born in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, gangling Rashidi Yekini started his professional career in Nigeria before moving to African Sports of Cote d’Ivoire(1987-1990), where he played for 3 years. He joined Victoria Setubal of Portugal in 1990 and instantly became a star for the mid-table team, during his stint in Portugal he was the top scorer in the Portuguese first division in 93-94 season, this feat (32 matches, 34 goals earned him the title of African footballer of the Year in 1993, becoming the first ever Nigerian to receive such an honour.
With an impressive form he was an integral part of the team which qualified and played for Nigeria at her first ever maiden World Cup appearance.
After the World Cup, he moved to Olympiacos FC (1994-1995), Grecce, then later to Sporting Gijon(1995-1996), Switzerland, returning briefly to play with Victoria Setubal(1997), teaming up with Zurich (1997-1998), Switzerland moving to Club Athletic(1998-1999) and later to Al-Shabab(1999) in Saudi Arabia.
Already at the twilight of his career, he returned back to the continent to play for his former club, Africa Sports (1999-2002).
In 2003, at 39, he returned to the Nigerian championship with Julius Berger FC(2002-2003).
Retiring briefly in 2003, 41-year old Yekini teamed up with Gateway FC, Abeokuta in 2005,playing a season before finally ending his career.
Yekini, top goal scorer at the African Cup of nations in 1994 scored 37 goals in 58 appearances for the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles.