He died aged 48.

Yekini celebrates his famous USA ’94 goal against Bulgaria.

May 4, marks the fifth anniversary of Nigerian football legend, Rashidi Yekini‘s death

He died at the age of 48 in 2012 at about 9:35pm in Ibadan after battling mental illness for over a year.

Yekini was buried the following day according to Muslim rights, in his hometown in Irra, Offa, Kwara State.

Born October 23, 1964 in Kaduna, Yekini, who won the African Footballer of the Year award in 1993, is still the all-time highest goalscorer for Nigeria’s national team with 37 goals in 58 appearances.


Late Rashidi Yekini is one of Nigeria’s greatest footballers of all-time

In 1994, he scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal, during a 3–0 win against Bulgaria.

The moment he grabbed the goal net, crying and as well shaking it as he celebrated, remains one of the most iconic images in Nigerian football history.

His wife and children survive him, along with his aged mother, Sikiratu Yekini who recently won N2m on popular TV show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

May his soul continue to rest in peace.