On Friday 4 May 2012, at the age of 48, Rasheed Yekini passed away after a brief but serious illness. Nigeria’s record goalscorer (37 goals) ensured his name went down in the history books when he scored the Super Eagles’ first ever FIFA World Cup™ goal at the 1994 finals in the USA in the 3-0 group stage win over Bulgaria.

FIFA.com looks back on his memorable goal and subsequent celebration. Yekini who played for several clubs in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Switzerland, could hardly believe he had scored and spontaneously grabbed the net, shaking it in celebration.

The photo of the 58-time Nigeria international captivated the world and even today the former striker, who in 1993 was the first Nigerian to be voted African Footballer of the Year, remains a respected figure in the global football family.

“Rasheed Yekini was one of the best players at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA,” said former FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter when he learned of Yekini’s death. “Against Bulgaria he scored Nigeria’s first ever FIFA World Cup goal, a strike that will earn him a place in the annals of Nigerian football. He will be sorely missed.”




http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=5/news=yekini-unforgettable-celebration-1628761.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

RIP to a great legend

Tribute to the football legend

Awwwww. He Lives On.

Keep Resting in Peace!

till date no Nigeria strikers has equal his record...

lalasticlala


lets celebrate a true Nigeria Hero

.Rashidi Yekini Profile:


Rashidi Yekini (23 October 1963 – 4 May 2012) was a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker.
His professional career, which spanned more than two decades, was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries his own notwithstanding.

Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international, and represented the nation in five major tournaments, including two World Cups where he scored the country's first-ever goal in the competition. He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Club career

Yekini was born in Kaduna, of Yoruba origin.[4] After starting his professional career in the Nigerian league, 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, and those performances earned him the title of African Footballer of the Year once, the first ever from the nation.

In the 1994 summer Yekini was bought by Olympiacos FC, but did not get along with teammates and left. 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, at 39, he returned to the Nigerian championship with Julius Berger FC.

In 2005, 41-year-old Yekini made a short comeback, moving alongside former national teammate Mobi Oparaku to Gateway United FC.
International career
Scoring 37 goals for Nigeria in 58 appearance Yekini was the national record goalscorer. He was part of the team that participated in the 1994 (where he netted Nigeria's first-ever goal in a World Cup, in a 3–0 win against Bulgaria, his celebration after scoring, crying while holding the goal's net, became one of the iconic images of the tournament) and the 1998 FIFA World Cups.
Additionally, Yekini 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 participated at Olympic level in Seoul 1988.
International


Death
Yekini was reported to be ill for an extended period of time. In 2011, news media in Nigeria begun issuing reports of his failing health, and he was said to suffer from bipolar disorder, depression and some other undisclosed psychiatric condition. He died in Ibadan on 4 May 2012 at the age of only 48,[2] the news being confirmed by former national teammates Mutiu Adepoju and Ike Shorunmu;[9] he was buried at his residence in Ira, Kwara State.[10]

Our fallen hero

What a country

queenoflafia:
Our fallen hero

What a country

yes the labour of our heroes shall never be in vain....

Rashidi's Shot then na die

Indeed he was great. I remember his goal at the '94 W/Cup Nigeria vs Italy.

The stupid leaders we have today have waisted your selfless contribution to this country...


RIP

Rashidi the Legend.... RIP. ... super eagle missed you..

9JA'S GREATEST STRIKER OF ALL TIMES- RIP YEKING

thats good

He deserved to be celebrated

Keep RIP the great hero

Taye Taiwo

I hope federal govt (Buhari) will also remember his family after FIFA

k

StepTwo:
Taye Taiwo

What about our NFA?

so painful that nobody is doing something about this great legend being immortalised. he deserves more than a stadium being named after him(funny enough none has been named)...
truly a legend indeed!

YeKing....
Humm Nostalgia
Hello guys,
I am Rasheed Yekini, the African footballer of the year and three times Bournvita Nigeria footballer of the year.

Drink Bournvita!

Good for his family!

He was indeed a great player.

sadly, Nigeria didn't.

I remember those days . . . The only scene i was interested in was when Yekini
have to play the shot. Honestly, Taye Taiwo and MArtins are still learning

Those days we kids no sabi pass "no u r not,I am Rashidi yekini" rip legend.

To you late Rashidi Yakini
My...