The Fédération Internationale de Football Association [FIFA] and Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] have paid glowing tribute to departed Nigerian football legend Rashidi Yekini who passed on seven years ago.
Late Yekini was Nigeria's all-time record top scorer with 37 goals in 58 appearances. He died on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48 after a protracted illness.
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“The legend Rashidi Yekini lives on. On this day in 2012, Nigeria's all-time top scorer passed on to glory. Keep resting in peace, Goals-Father. #WeRememberYekini,” says a tweet on the official Twitter handle of the NFF yesterday.
FIFA also posted a short message on their Twitter handle in memory of Yekini with a picture of his famous goal celebration where he held and shook the net after scoring Nigeria's opening against Bulgaria at the USA 1994 World Cup.
“This day seven years ago, we lost Nigeria's legend Rashidi Yekini. The first player to score a World Cup goal for the Super Eagles, his passionate celebration will always have its place in the history of the tournament,” FIFA tweeted yesterday.
Yekini was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993, becoming the first Nigerian footballer to win the award.
His goal against Bulgaria at the USA ’94 World Cup made him the first Nigerian to score a goal at a FIFA world cup.
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Yekini also helped the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia where he also topped the goalscorers' chart and was named best player of the competition.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
