Google honored Nigeria’s legendary top goal scorer, Rashidi Yekini, on his 60th posthumous birthday with a special doodle. Yekini is best remembered for his famous goal celebration in the 1994 USA World Cup match against Bulgaria, where he clung to the net after scoring Nigeria’s first goal in a 3-0 victory for the Super Eagles.
The doodle opened with a bio about 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.”
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“The beginning of Yekini’s life was difficult as he faced homelessness and poverty. To make money, his first jobs were as a welder and mechanic, but his true goal was to pursue football. He soon began playing in front of scouts and in 1981, he joined his first football club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna,” it read in part.
Yekini played for the Super Eagles for a little over 14 years, including another appearance in the 1998 World Cup. In his 58 matches for Nigeria, he scored 37 goals, a record that still stands.
“Happy birthday, Rashidi Yekini!
Yekini found the back of the net 37 times in 62 appearances for country.
He died in 2011 after battling health problems for an extended period.
