Google honours Nigerian football legend, Rashidi Yekini, on 60th posthumous birthday
Google has paid tribute to Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s record-breaking goal scorer, on what would have been his 60th birthday. The tech giant created a special doodle in honor of Yekini, commemorating his remarkable achievements in Nigerian football.
Yekini is most remembered for his iconic goal celebration during the 1994 World Cup match against Bulgaria, where he held onto the net after scoring Nigeria’s first goal in a triumphant 3-0 victory for the Super Eagles.
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The doodle featured a brief biography of the Kaduna-born striker: “Today’s Doodle celebrates iconic Nigerian footballer Rashidi Yekini, an accomplished forward known as the ‘Goalsfather’ for his ability to sneak shots past the keeper. On this day in 1963, he was born in Kaduna, Nigeria.”
Yekini faced significant challenges at the beginning of his life, including homelessness and poverty. Despite working as a welder and mechanic to make ends meet, his true passion was football. He caught the attention of scouts and joined his first football club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna in 1981.
He went on to represent the Super Eagles for over 14 years, with another World Cup appearance in 1998. In his 58 games for Nigeria, Yekini scored an impressive 37 goals, a record that still stands to this day as the highest number of goals scored for the country.
The tribute concludes with a heartfelt message: “Happy birthday, Rashidi Yekini!”
Yekini’s incredible career saw him find the back of the net 37 times in 62 appearances for his country. He sadly passed away in 2011 after a prolonged battle with health issues.