CHAIRMEN of Football Associations in the country have joined the growing list of Nigerians mourning the death of Rashidi Yekini, a former Nigeria international football player.'We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing on Friday of Rashidi Yekini, a former player of the Super Eagles who contributed greatly to the national team,' the chairmen said in a statement signed by Effiong Johnson who is the Chairman of Chairmen in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board. Yekini, who is the all-time leading scorer for the Super Eagles with 37 goals, died in his hometown, Ira, Oyun local government in Kwara State on Friday after years of illness.'His talent and dedication to the national team shook the entire African Continent, he motivate many upcoming youths, and proved that country was more important than any other interest ,' said the chairmen.The Chairmen also praised Yekini's 'pivotal role' in Nigeria's team to the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia that won the country its first continental trophy since 1980 and 'ensured that Nigeria was a force in African football.''He inspired a generation that most often looked up to him and made an incredible mark not just in Africa but also in Europe where he played the majority of his club football,' the chairmen said.Yekini was born in Kaduna. After starting his professional career in the Nigerian league, he moved to Cte d'Ivoire to play for Africa Sports National.From there he went to Portugal and Vitria de Setbal, where he experienced his most memorable years, eventually becoming the Portuguese first division's top scorer, in 1993'94, as his performances (32 matches, 34 goals) earned him the title of African Footballer of the Year in 1993, the first ever from the nation.He also played with Olympiacos FC, Sporting de Gijn, FC Zrich, Club Athltique Bizertin and Al-Shabab Riyadh, before rejoining Africa Sports. In 2003, at 39, he returned to the Nigerian league with Julius Berger FC and later joined Gateway United FC in 2005 at the age of 41.At international level, Yekini was part of the team that participated in the 1994 (where he scored Nigeria's first-ever goal in a World Cup, in a 3'0 win against Bulgaria) and the 1998 FIFA World Cups. He also played for Nigeria at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, during which he scored Nigeria's only goal in the tournament ' in the 1-3 loss to Yugoslavia.
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