Paulina
Rashidi Yekini, known as the ‘Goalsfather,’ had a significant impact on soccer worldwide. His skills have inspired many soccer stars. On what would have been his 60th birthday, here are 12 things to know about Yekini. He was born in 1963 in Kaduna State, Nigeria, and started as a welder and mechanic before joining his first club. In 1982, he joined the Shooting Stars and scored 45 goals in 53 games. He became the first Nigerian to win the African Footballer of the Year award in 1993. Throughout his career, he played for clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland. He played a crucial role in helping Nigeria qualify for the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. Yekini scored 37 goals in 58 games for the Super Eagles. He had three wives and three daughters. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 48 in 2012.
Nicknamed the ‘Goalsfather,’ Rashidi Yekini’s influence on global soccer is unforgettable.
His exceptional skills continue to inspire soccer stars around the world.
On the occasion of the late Rashidi Yekini’s 60th birthday on October 23, 2023, here are 12 facts you should know about him.
(1) He was born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna State to Yoruba parents from Kwara State.
(2) Yekini initially worked as a welder and mechanic before pursuing his football career. He joined his first football club, ‘UNTL FC,’ in Kaduna.
(3) He played for the Shooting Stars in 1982, where he scored 45 goals in 53 games.
(4) Yekini became the first Nigerian footballer to win the ‘African Footballer of the Year’ award in 1993.
(5) In 1984, Yekini led the Shooting Stars to the finals of the African Champions Cup.
(6) He also played for various international clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland.
(7) During the 1993-94 season, Yekini won the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) while playing for Portugal’s Vitória Setúbal, as the top scorer in the league with 21 goals.
(8) Yekini played a key role in Nigeria’s national team, the ‘Super Eagles,’ helping them qualify for the 1994 World Cup and scoring the first goal of the tournament.
(9) He represented the Super Eagles for over 14 years and also participated in the 1998 World Cup.
(10) Yekini scored 37 goals in 58 games for Nigeria during his time with the Super Eagles.
(11) He was married to three wives and had three daughters named Yemisi, Omoyemi, and Damilola.
(12) Yekini passed away in Ibadan, Oyo State, on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48.
