Rashidi Yekini
Nigerian footballer (1963-2012)
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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 October 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Kaduna, Nigeria | ||
| Date of death | 4 May 2012 (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.[1]
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.[2][3]
References change
- ↑ Nigerian football legend, Rashidi Yekini, dies at 49; The Times of Nigeria, 4 May 2012
- ↑ "Obituary: Rashidi Yekini (1963–2012)". Yahoo Sports. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ↑ Nigeria: Legendary footballer, Rashidi Yekini dies at 48; All Africa, 5 May 2012