Rashidi Yekini

Rashidi Yekini (23 October 1963 – 4 May 2012) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a forward. He is the all-time top goalscorer for his nation. He was widely considered as one of the best football players in Africa.

Rashidi Yekini

Personal information
Date of birth	(1963-10-23)23 October 1963
Place of birth	Kaduna, Nigeria
Date of death	4 May 2012(2012-05-04) (aged 48)
Place of death	Ibadan, Nigeria
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1981–1982	UNTL Kaduna	30	(12)
1982–1984	Shooting Stars	53	(45)
1984–1987	Abiola Babes	100	(80)
1987–1990	Africa Sports	113	(105)
1990–1994	Vitória Setúbal	114	(91)
1994–1995	Olympiacos	4	(2)
1995–1996	Sporting Gijón	14	(3)
1997	Vitória Setúbal	14	(3)
1997–1998	Zürich	28	(14)
1998–1999	Bizerte
1999	Al-Shabab
1999–2002	Africa Sports	130	(112)
2002–2003	Julius Berger	50	(10)
2005	Gateway	26	(7)
Total		673	(483)
National team
1984–1998	Nigeria	62	(37)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

His professional career, which lasted for more than 20 years, was mainly with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries besides his own.

Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international footballer, and represented the nation in seven big tournaments, including two World Cups where he scored the country's first-ever goal in the competition. He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.