Nigeria’s all-time goal-scorer, Rashidi Yekini who passed away on Friday evening. will be buried today
Yekini was confirmed dead in his hometown, Ira, Oyun local government in Kwara State on Friday after battling with an illness, according to the Kwara sports commissioner, Barrister Kayode Towoju.
Towoju also said the family of the ex-Nigerian star will bury him according to Islamic rites on Saturday in his hometown.
The former Super Eagles’ striker was brought back to Nigeria from the overseas about two days ago where he had sought for medical treatment.
A former Nigerian teammate, Mutiu Adepoju, told SuperSport.com on Friday that the death of Yekini remains a mystery.
He added that the loss of the revered forward is a huge loss to the nation in time when the Super Eagles are struggling to find their feet in major international competitions.
“It is a very sad news at this time when the country is still struggling to make headway in international competitions and also replace players like his kind in the national team. It is a huge loss to Nigeria and may his soul rest in peace,” said Adepoju in a shaken tone.
Yekini, who would have turned 49 in October this year, started his professional career with UNTL of Kaduna and ended it with Gateway FC in 2005.
He also played for top clubs such as 3SC, Africa Sport (Cote d’Ivoire), Vitoria Setubal (Portugal) and Olympiakos (Greece).
Yekini remains the all-time leading scorer for the Nigerian men’s national team with 37 goals.
He was part of the 1994 Super Eagles that won the Africa Cup of Nations and took part in the nation’s first Fifa World Cup in the USA where he recorded Nigeria’s first-ever goal at the Mundial.
