Rashidi Yekini at 60: Google Doodle celebrates Super Eagles greatest striker

The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago

Rashidi Yekini at 60: Google Doodle celebrates Super Eagles greatest striker

Tosin Abayomi 10:30 - 23.10.2023

The Google Doodle posthumously remembered Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Rashidi Yekini on his 60th birthday.

Super Eagles of Nigeria legend Rashidi Yekini is dominating the social media trends.

Rashidi Yekini is trending based on the efforts of the search engine provided and operated by Google.

Google Doodle celebrates Rashidi Yekini at 60

The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday.

The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago
The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago

Yekini is a renowned Nigerian football player known as the Goalsfather for his goal-scoring expertise.

Yekini was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, on October 23, 1963, which makes him 60 today.

His remarkable journey from a difficult upbringing filled with homelessness and poverty to football glory is well celebrated.

The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago
The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago

Motivated by his love of football, Yekini first worked as a mechanic and welder before scouts took notice.

Rashidi Yekini club career

He played for the Shooting Stars after joining his first football team, "UNTL FC," in Kaduna in 1981.

The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago
The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago

Yekini became the first player from Nigeria to win the title of "African Footballer of the Year" in 1983 thanks to his outstanding goal-scoring acumen.

He was instrumental in getting the Shooting Stars to the African Champions Cup finals the next year.

Yekini featured for football teams in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland.

Rashidi Yekini at the FIFA World Cup 1994 |Photo Credit: FIFA
Rashidi Yekini at the FIFA World Cup 1994 |Photo Credit: FIFA

During his time with the Portuguese team Vitória Setúbal, he was notable for becoming the league's top scorer in 1993–94.

Rashidi Yekini with the Super Eagles

Yekini was an important member of the national team, the "Super Eagles," and he helped Nigeria qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago
The Google Doodle on Monday, October 23, 2023, celebrated Rashidi Yekini's 60th birthday. - Imago

He is forever marked in football history for his famous celebration of scoring Nigeria's first goal—clutching the net with both arms and crying with happiness which was represented in the Doodle by Google.

Yekini played in the 1998 World Cup for Nigeria and after spending more than 14 years playing football with the Super Eagles he set a record of 37 goals in 58 games.

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