EX NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL, RASHIDI YEKINI DIES AT 49

Late Rashidi yekini celebrating his first goal against Bulgaria in the 1994 world Cup in the United States of America

A retired Nigerian footballer, Rashidi Yekini who scored the country’s first goal at the World Cup is dead. Yekini who where he died is yet to be confirmed as some said it was in a private hospital in Ibadan and others said it was in Kwara, but confirmatively he is dead.Unconfirmed reports reaching me has it that he`s been down with mental illness for two years , his death was reportedly confirmed by one of his colleagues, Mutiu Adepoju, who was part of the Super Eagles team that won the prestigious African Cup of Nations in 1994.

During his heydays as a footballer, he scored about 37 goals for the country in 58 appearances.

His soccer prowess especially during the 1994 FIFA World Cup when he did a yeoman’s job in  Nigeria’s defeat of Bulgaria by 3-0 will never be forgotten.

Apart from playing for his country, he featured in other international clubsides such as Cote d’ivoire where he played for Africa Sports National, Victoria Setubal in Portugal among others.

He won the best African footballer of the year in 1993. Rashidi yekini who was born in Kaduna on Ociober 23 1963 is survived by three wives and three children. He will be buried on saturday May 5, 2012 in Ira Kwara State in Nigeria