Rashidi Yekini at 60: Google Doodle honors prolific striker

Legendary Nigerian football player, Rashidi Yekini was celebrated by Google Doodle on Monday, October 23 as he marks his 60th birthday.

The soccer star is known for his goal-scoring prowess and nicknamed the Goalsfather was born October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria.

Yekini who is one of the country's most prolific goalscorers was a welder and mechanic before catching the eye of football scouts. He played for ‘UNTL FC’ in Kaduna in 1981 before he joined Shooting Stars where he scored an impressive 45 goals in 53 games - a record at the time.

His ability in front of goal earned him the award as ‘African Footballer of the Year,’ making him the first Nigerian player to achieve this honor. His influence on the game at the club level again showed as he played a pivotal role as Shooting Stars made it to the finals of the African Champions Cup.

Beyond Nigeria, Yekini played for various football clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland. Notably, he secured the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) in the 1993-94 season as the league’s top-scoring player while with the Portuguese team Vitória Setúbal, The Punch reports.

A key figure for Nigeria’s national team, the ‘Super Eagles,’ Yekini played a crucial role in their qualification for the 1994 World Cup. His iconic celebration, clutching the net with both arms and shedding tears of joy after scoring Nigeria’s first goal, remains etched in football history.

Continuing his football career for over 14 years with the Super Eagles, Yekini participated in the 1998 World Cup, scoring a total of 37 goals in 58 games for Nigeria—a record for the most goals scored for the country.




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