Remembering Rashidi

Too often legends are easily forgotten till it's too late; they pass away or fall on hard times. I was saddened to learn that Nigeria had lost one of such legends; the goal king Rashidi Yekini. Rather than focus on his last days and whether or not he should have been celebrated more (he should have). I'll like to remember the joy he brought me and countless of his fans and countrymen.


Rashidi is likely most famous for his goal celebration in USA '94, after scoring Nigeria's first World Cup goal. It wasn't the most memorable goal - a simple tap in, but it was significant in announcing the country on football's world stage. This was the icing on the cake for a striker who was on top of his game. He had just finished the season as the top scorer in Portugal, top scorer in the ANC,  Tunisia '94 which Nigeria won and was the reigning African footballer of the year.

My admiration for strikers (true No. 9's only) is well documented and Rashidi was a forebearer of  your modern day Drogba, all physicality and finishing.
There are two fond strikes I always associate with Yekini, interestingly none are goals. First was a fierce volley against Egypt in Tunisia '94 that clipped the bar and the other is the scissors kick against Spain in France '98. What still fascinates me is how he was able to show the dexterity needed for the scissor kick even though he was already in his mid thirties and considered an "old man".

Rashidi will surely be remembered by a generation of football fans including "yours truly". I just want to use this opportunity to say thank you, "Ose" Baba Rashidi for the joy your goals and play brought to me.