The renowned Nigerian football great Rashidi Yekini, often known as the Goalsfather, turns 60 today, and Google Doodle is happy to celebrate this milestone.
Yekini, who was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, on October 23, 1963, became well-known thanks to his amazing ability to sneak shots past goalkeepers.
Rashidi Yekini, who passed away, had a difficult path because he had previously experienced homelessness and poverty. He worked as a mechanic and a welder to make ends meet, but football was his genuine love. When he gained the attention of talent scouts, his perseverance paid off.
The Goalsfather made his debut with Kaduna’s “UNTL FC” in 1981. Yekini transferred to the Shooting Stars and made an imprint by scoring an amazing 45 goals in 53 games.
Yekini was the first Nigerian player to win “African Footballer of the Year” in 1983 thanks to his extraordinary scoring abilities. He was crucial in helping the Shooting Stars go to the African Champions Cup finals the following year.
The travels of the late Yekini extended outside of Nigeria. He played for football teams in Switzerland, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, and Portugal. He won the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) for the league’s top goal scorer during the 1993–94 season while representing Portugal’s Vitória Setbal.
Additionally, he was essential in Nigeria’s national team, the “Super Eagles,” reaching the 1994 World Cup. He scored Nigeria’s first goal on this momentous occasion, creating an iconic scene as he joyfully embraced the goal with tears in his eyes.
The company said that the celebration is still remembered as one of the most famous goal celebrations in football history.
For more than 14 years, Yekini represented the Super Eagles, making another World Cup appearance in 1998. He established himself as Nigeria’s all-time leading goal scorer with an astounding 37 goals in 58 appearances.
Football legend passed away in May 2012.