Rashidi Yekini is a name that resonates with football fans in Nigeria and around the world.
He is best remembered as one of the greatest African footballers of all time, and his legacy was cemented by his historic goal for Nigeria in their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.
It was in the summer of 1994, and Nigeria had qualified for their first World Cup tournament in the United States.
They were drawn in Group D, alongside Bulgaria, Argentina, and Greece. Their first game was against Bulgaria on June 21, and Yekini etched his name into Nigerian football folklore in the match played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
In the 21st minute of the match, midfielder Finidi George received the ball on the right wing and sent in a low cross towards the Bulgarian penalty area and Yekini who was playing as a lone striker, lost his marker before tapping into an empty net, beating Bulgarian goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov.
Yekini’s celebration after the goal was unforgettable, as it brought about a taste of what it felt like to celebrate a goal on the biggest stage of football for himself and for many Nigerians. He ran towards the goalpost, grabbed onto the net while screaming with joy and tears in his eyes, uttering unheard words before being mobbed by his teammates, marking an indelible moment of pure emotion and passion.
His opener proved vital, as it helped Nigeria cruise to a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria, thanks to two other goals from Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi and former Barcelona forward Emmanuel Amunike. Yekini was named the man of the match, and his goal would go down in history as Nigeria’s first ever in a World Cup tournament.
Before the World Cup, Yekini had led the Super Eagles to victory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, where he emerged as the tournament’s highest scorer and best player.
Sadly, Yekini, nicknamed “The Goalsfather,” passed away in 2012 at the age of 48, but his legacy lives on as his goal in the 1994 World Cup will always be remembered as a moment of pure joy and pride for Nigerian football fans. He remains the Super Eagles all-time leading scorer with 37 goals in 62 games and one of the greatest footballers in Nigerian history.
