Rashidi Yekini
| 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 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1981–1982 | UNTL Kaduna | ||
| 1982–1984 | Shooting Stars | 53 | (45) |
| 1984–1987 | Abiola Babes | ||
| 1987–1990 | Africa Sports | ||
| 1990–1994 | Vitória Setúbal | 108 | (90) |
| 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 | ||
| 2002–2003 | Julius Berger | ||
| 2005 | Gateway | 26 | (7) |
| National team | |||
| 1984–1998 | Nigeria | 58 | (37) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Rashidi Yekini (23 October 1963 – 4 May 2012) was a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker.
His professional career, which spanned more than two decades, was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries his own notwithstanding.[1]
Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international, and represented the nation in five major 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 once.[2][3]
International career
Scoring 37 goals for Nigeria in 58 appearances,[4] Yekini was the national record goalscorer. He was part of the team that participated in the 1994 (where he netted Nigeria's first-ever goal in a World Cup, in a 3–0 win against Bulgaria, his celebration after scoring, crying while holding the goal's net, became one of the iconic images of the tournament[5]) and the 1998 FIFA World Cups.
Additionally, Yekini helped the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations where he also topped the goal charts and was named best player of the tournament.[6] He also participated at Olympic level in Seoul 1988.
Death
Yekini was reported to be ill for an extended period of time. In 2011, news media in Nigeria begun issuing reports of his failing health, and he was said to suffer from bipolar disorder, depression and some other undisclosed psychiatric condition. He died in Ibadan on 4 May 2012 at the age of only 48,[2] the news being confirmed by former national teammates Mutiu Adepoju and Ike Shorunmu.[7]
References
- Jump up ^ Nigerian football legend, Rashidi Yekini, dies at 49; The Times of Nigeria, 4 May 2012
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Obituary: Rashidi Yekini (1963–2012)". Yahoo! Sports. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- Jump up ^ Nigeria: Legendary footballer, Rashidi Yekini dies at 48; All Africa, 5 May 2012
- Jump up ^ "Rashidi Yekini – International Goals". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- Jump up ^ "Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal & Rashidi Yekini's five most memorable moments". Goal.com. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- Jump up ^ http://www.theguardian.com/football/b log/2014/jun/21/rashidi-yekini-nigeri a-best-african-players
- Jump up ^ "Rashidi Yekini dead: Ex-players react". Tribune. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
External links
- Rashidi Yekini at footballzz.co.uk
- Stats at ForaDeJogo
- BDFutbol profile
- Rashidi Yekini at National-Football-Teams.com
- Rashidi Yekini – FIFA competition record
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