Four years after his death, the Nigerian Football Federation and world football governing body FIFA have paid tribute to the Super Eagles’ greatest goalscorer Rasheed Yekini.
Yekini, who died on May 4, 2012, scored 37 goals for the Super Eagles including Nigeria’s first goal at the World Cup.
Tweets by the NFF about the late striker using the hashtag #WeRememberYekini elicited tribute from many other Nigerians, who in turn recalled the Yekini’s finest moments and the impact the Eagles had during his time.
To mark the fourth anniversary of his passing FIFA on its part looked back on his career “his memorable goal and subsequent celebration” at the 1994 World Cup.
After scoring the first goal in a 3-0 win over Bulgaria, Yekini had grabbed the net and shook it vigorously.
To mark the fourth anniversary of his passing, FIFA in a post on its website looked back on his career, “his memorable goal and subsequent celebration”.
“The photo of the 58-time Nigeria international captivated the world and even today the former striker, who in 1993 was the first Nigerian to be voted African Footballer of the Year, remains a respected figure in the global football family,” it said.
It also quoted comments made by former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter after he learnt of Yekini’s death.
“Rasheed Yekini was one of the best players at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA. Against Bulgaria he scored Nigeria’s first ever FIFA World Cup goal, a strike that will earn him a place in the annals of Nigerian football. He will be sorely missed,” Blatter was quoted as saying.
Some Nigerians, however, felt the NFF should have done more to honour him while he was alive.
Some expressed the view that more should be done to honour and remember him for his heroics.
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