Google Doodle has celebrated the 60th birthday of the iconic Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini.
It was a chronicle of his life showing his challenges and how confronted poverty, as a young boy, working as a welder and mechanic to make money.
The doodle began with a biography of the Kaduna-born striker: “Today’s Doodle celebrates iconic Nigerian footballer Rashidi Yekini, an accomplished forward nicknamed the “Goalsfather” for his ability to sneak shots by the keeper. On this day in 1963, he was born in Kaduna, Nigeria.”
He started his career in front of scouts, and in 1981, he joined his first club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna, marking the beginning of a remarkable career. Yekini also joined the Shooting Stars, netting 45 goals in 53 games.
His many goals led him to other leagues and clubs such as Victoria Setubal, Olympicos, Sporting Gijon, and Zurich, before returning to the country to play for Julius Berger and Gateway United.
Yekini remains a legend to many Nigerian fans as he scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal at the FIFA World Cup in the 3-0 win over Bulgaria in 1994. The late player clutched the net and screamed his name to celebrate the goal.
He scored 37 goals and remains Nigeria’s all-time top scorer. He was also voted African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Yekini died on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48.
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