Nigeria's greatest striker is dead.

Nigeria's Rashidi Yekini is dead. The former African footballer of the year died at a private hospital in Ibadan on Friday, 4th May,2012. The former Vitoria Setubal hit man has been ill for some few years before he eventually gave up the ghost on Friday. He scored Nigeria's first ever FIFA World Cup goal at USA 1994 in a match against Bulgaria that eventually ended 3-0. He is the third top scorer in the history of the African Cup of Nations with 13 goals. 

Brief History

Rashidi Yekini was born on October 23rd, 1963 in Kaduna,Nigeria. He started his career at UNTL Kaduna in 1981 before he joined Shooting Stars in 1982. He played for the defunct Abiola Babes from 1984 to 1987. Later on, he signed for Africa Sports of Cote d'Ivoire. He joined Vitoria Setubal in 1990 where he played a total of 108 matches and scored 90 goals. 34 of those goals were scored in the 1993-94 season when he was crowned the African footballer of the year. His subsequent spells at Olympicos,FC Zurich,Al Shabab and Sporting Gijon were not successful. In 2005 he joined Gateway FC of Abeokuta and scored a hat trick in one of the games he played. 

International Career

Yekini scored 37 goals in 58 International caps for the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He was the top scorer at the 1992 and the 1994 editions of the African Cup of Nations. He provided an assist for Garba Lawal's memorable goal against Spain at France 98. 

Lifestyle

After his return from Europe, Rashidi Yekini decided to leave alone for a long period of time despite the fact that he had three wives and three children.