Celebrating Rashidi Yekini: Nigeria’s Iconic Goal Scorer’s Top 10 Moments

Rashidi Yekini, fondly known as the ‘Goals Father,’ was a legendary figure in Nigerian football. His incredible journey in the sport left an indelible mark. To celebrate what would have been his 60th birthday, Google created a special doodle in his honor. Yekini’s legacy endures, as he holds the record for being Nigeria’s top scorer with 37 goals and is regarded as one of the greatest Nigerian strikers and an African football legend.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 moments in Rashidi Yekini’s illustrious career:

1. First Eagles Goal: Yekini’s international journey began in 1985 when he scored his first goal for the Super Eagles against Kenya in the 1986 World Cup qualifiers. This marked the beginning of a prolific career, making him the Eagles’ all-time leading scorer with 37 goals in 58 appearances.
2. Three-Time Top Scorer: He led the Ivory Coast topflight league in scoring for three consecutive years (1988, 1989, and 1990) while playing for Africa Sports.
3. AFCON 1992 Golden Boot: Yekini’s four goals earned him the Golden Boot as he led Nigeria to a bronze medal finish at the 1992 AFCON in Senegal.
4. African Footballer of The Year (1993): He became the first Nigerian to be crowned African Footballer of The Year in 1993 after helping Nigeria qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
5. Triple Haul at AFCON 1994: Yekini claimed the AFCON Golden Boot for the second time in 1994, scoring five goals in Tunisia. He led the Eagles to their second AFCON title and received the tournament’s best player award. The Nigerian government honored him with the Member of The Order of The Niger award.
6. First World Cup Goal (1994): Yekini played a crucial role in Nigeria’s historic maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup. In the opening game against Bulgaria, he scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal in a 3–0 win, and his emotional celebration became iconic.
7. True Goals Father: Yekini had an impressive club career, scoring goals consistently. He played for clubs like Shooting Stars, Abiola, Africa Sports, Setubal, and more, leaving a trail of goals in his wake.
8. Primeira Liga Golden Boot: In the 1993/94 season, Yekini was the top scorer in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, netting 21 goals in his last season with Vitoria Setubal.
9. 34-Goal Season: The season before, Yekini achieved a career-best 34 goals in just 32 games, helping Setubal secure promotion from the Portuguese second division to the Primeira Liga.
10. Return from Retirement (2005): In 2005, at the age of 41, Yekini made a brief comeback, playing for Gateway United FC alongside former national teammate Mobi Oparaku. He proved he still had the goal-scoring magic, netting seven goals in 26 appearances.

Rashidi Yekini’s contribution to Nigerian and African football is celebrated and remembered with great admiration. His extraordinary career and the moments he created on the field continue to inspire football enthusiasts around the world.

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