Google Celebrates Iconic Nigerian Footballer, Rashidi Yekini On 60th Birthday

Rashidi Yekini, a legendary Nigerian footballer known for his extraordinary goal-scoring prowess, was honoured with a Google Doodle on Monday as celebrated his 60th birthday.

Yekini, also known as the “Goalsfather,” rose to football stardom after a difficult childhood marked by homelessness and poverty. His story is nothing short of inspirational.

Yekini, a Nigerian who was born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, rose to fame as a football player after scouts noticed his incredible passion for the game. ‘UNTL FC’ in Kaduna, Nigeria, was where he started his football career. Later, he played for the Shooting Stars, where he made an enduring impression by scoring 45 goals in just 53 games.

Yekini was the first Nigerian player to win the prestigious “African Footballer of the Year” award in 1983, thanks to his exceptional goal-scoring ability. He was crucial in helping the Shooting Stars advance to the African Champions Cup finals the very next year.

But Yekini’s influence went far beyond Nigeria’s borders. He entered the international football scene and displayed his talents with several clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland. In the 1993–94 season, while playing for Vitória Setbal, he won the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball), becoming the top scorer in the Portuguese league.

Yekini, a well-known member of Nigeria’s national team, the “Super Eagles,” was crucial to the team’s ability to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. His famous goal celebration, where he clutched the goal with both arms and sobbed with joy after giving Nigeria its first goal in the competition, is still remembered fondly in football history.

In addition to spending more than 14 years with the Super Eagles, Rashidi Yekini also had a significant impact on the 1998 World Cup. He holds the record for the most goals scored for his nation, Nigeria, with a total of 37 in 58 games, leaving an enduring imprint on the sport.