Rashidi Yekini may have died since May 4, 2012, but that did not stop Google Doodle along with other Nigerians celebrating the 60th posthumous birthday of the Nigerian football legend on Monday, The PUNCH reported.
Yekini is Nigeria’s all-time top scorer with 37 goals, who represented the country in seven major tournaments, including two World Cups, where he scored the country’s first ever goal in the competition in the United States in 1994, the Olympic Games and the AFCON.
Google celebrated the late icon by creating a doodle of the man who scored Nigeria’s first ever World Cup goal in 1994.
Nicknamed the ‘Goalsfather’, Yekini was Nigeria’s top goalscorer with 37 goals and is widely considered as one of the greatest African strikers of all time.
A number of Nigerians, alongside Google, took to social media to celebrate the fallen striker.
Google in Africa, on their verified account, @googleafrica tweeted, “Today, we’re honouring the legacy of Rashidi Yekini on his 60th birthday with a special Doodle. Nigeria’s all-time top striker, his passion and iconic World Cup goal celebration left an indelible mark on the world of football.”
Nigerian writer and columnist, Japheth Omojuwa, hailed Yekini, stating, “King Rashidi Yekini. The gold standard for the No.9 position in Super Eagles history.”
A fan, Omotayo Olokede, posted Yekini’s iconic goal — Nigeria’s first at the World Cup in 1994 — and celebration against Bulgaria to mark the occasion with the caption, “A Goal to Remember. Rashidi Yekini… A Legend.”
Nigerian journalist Oluwashina Okeleji also praised Yekini, adding that he would always be remembered for his contributions to Nigerian football.
“Today would’ve been Baba Yekini 60th birthday, happy Birthday Goalsfather. There was pride in his achievements, sadness at his death and anger at the way he had been treated by some. The memories will always be there,” Okeleji wrote.
Another fan, Rayo Kasali revealed that Yekini was his first football idol, saying, “Happy Birthday to my very first football idol — King Rashidi Yekini. He would have been 60 today! Rest on, legend!”
The 1993 African Footballer of The Year’s professional career, which spanned more than two decades, saw him play in eight countries.
Ye-King, as he was also fondly called, had a blistering goals-laden club career. He scored 45 league goals in 53 games for his first club Shooting Stars, 80 goals in 100 games for Abiola Babes, 112 goals in 130 games for Ivorian giants Africa Sports, 94 goals in 148 games for Portuguese side Setubal and many more.
