Categories: SPORTS

Google Doodle honors Nigeria’s all-time highest scorer Rahidi Yekini at 60

Google Doodle celebrates the 60th birthday of the iconic Nigerian football player and all-time top scorer, Rashidi Yekini. His journey to stardom was one filled with challenges and poverty, as a young Yekini worked as a welder and mechanic to make money.

The doodle began with a biography of the Kaduna-born striker: “Today’s Doodle celebrates iconic Nigerian footballer Rashidi Yekini, an accomplished forward nicknamed the “Goalsfather” for his ability to sneak shots by the keeper. On this day in 1963, he was born in Kaduna, Nigeria.”

He started his career in front of scouts, and in 1981, he joined his first club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna, marking the beginning of a remarkable career. Yekini also joined the Shooting Stars, scoring 45 goals in 53 games.

His exploits took him beyond the continent’s shores playing for Victoria Setubal, Olympicos, Sporting Gijon, and Zurich, before returning to the country to play for Julius Berger and Gateway United.

Yekini remains indelible in the hearts of Nigerians, as he scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal at the FIFA World Cup in the 3-0 win over Bulgaria in 1994. Yekini clutched the net in ecstasy.

Sponsored

He scored 37 goals and remains Nigeria’s all-time top scorer. He was also voted African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

Yekini died on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48.

 

SPONSORED
Victor Alade

Recent Posts

Osifo Honours UNIBEN Best Graduating Students With N1 Million

UNIBEN Best Graduating Students get N1 million Prize The Osasere Osifo Prize for Academic Excellence…

6 hours ago

Edo State Govt Declares Over 200 Vehicles Missing

The committee set up by the Edo government to recover government assets says over 200…

9 hours ago

Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface Sidelined Due To Leg Injury

Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen will miss "a few games" following his return from international…

13 hours ago

Court Remands 109 Suspected Foreign Hackers In Jail For Cybercrime

ABUJA–On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja placed 109 suspected foreign hackers who tried…

14 hours ago

Simon Ekpa, A Terrorist With Zero Knowledge Of Biafra, Enugu Welcomes Arrest

Enugu State Government has commended the Government of the Republic of Finland for the arrest…

14 hours ago

Italy, Netherlands, Others To Enforce ICC Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former…

17 hours ago