Rashidi Yekini

Rashidi Yekini Biography / Profile

Rashid Yekini was born on October 23rd, 1963 in Kaduna, Nigeria to Alhaji Yekini and Alhaja Sikirat Yekini of Ira Offa, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Of Yoruba origin, Yekini played as a striker during his prolific career spanning 25years.

Rashidi Yekini Age

Rashidi Yekini would have been 60 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Rashidi Yekini Early Life

While grewing up in Kaduna, Yekini regularly played street football. At the age of 17, he joined the youth team of UNTL Kaduna.

Rashidi Yekini Career

After starting his professional career in the Nigerian league playing for UNTL Kaduna, Shooting Stars and Abiola Babes, he moved to Côte d'Ivoire to play for Africa Sports National, and from there he went to Portugal and Vitória de Setúbal where he experienced his most memorable years, eventually becoming the Primeira Liga's top scorer in the 1993–94 season after scoring 21 goals; the previous campaign he had netted a career-best 34 in 32 games to help the Sadinos promote from the second division. In the summer of 1994, Yekini was bought by Olympiacos FC, but did not get along with teammates and left soon after. His career never really got back on track, not even upon a return to Setúbal which happened after another unassuming spell, in La Liga with Sporting de Gijón; he successively played with FC Zürich, Club Athlétique Bizertin and Al-Shabab Riyadh, before rejoining Africa Sports. In 2003, aged 39, he returned to the Nigerian championship with Julius Berger FC. In April 2005, 41-year-old Yekini made a short comeback, moving alongside former national teammate Mobi Oparaku to Gateway United FC.

Yekini scored Nigeria’s first ever World Cup goal in a match against Bulgaria at the 1994 edition in USA. The image of him celebrating the goal by grabbing and shaking the net is one of the most iconic in the history of football. He helped the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations where he also topped the goal charts and was named best player of the competition. He also the record of Nigeria’s highest goal scorer with 37 goals in 58 appearances.

Rashidi Yekini Personal Life

Yekini was a Muslim, he married three wives among whom where Kemi and Adeola Yekini, and had three daughters, named Yemisi, Omoyemi and Damilola. He was reported to be ill for an extended period of time, reportedly suffering from bipolar disorder, depression and some other undisclosed psychiatric condition. He died in Ibadan on 4 May 2012 at the age of 48 and was buried in him hometown of Ira Offa, Kwara State. He was survived by his aged mother, brother, wives and children.

Rashidi Yekini Awards

Yekini set a precedent for Nigerian football when he won the CAF African footballer of the year award in 1993 as he became the first Nigerian to win the title. It was a feat achieved playing in Portugal, away from the French league that had dominated the awards for most of the preceding years.