Remembering Rashidi Yekini - Some Unforgettable Moments in Nigerian Football

Rashidi Yekini - Challenged by Three Argentine Defenders at USA 94

I still remember how Rashidi Yekini then playing for Africa Sports of Cote D’ Ivoire used to torment Iwuanyanwu Nationale, then representing Nigeria in the African Club Champions Cup.

In the 1988 edition, Nationale had taken a two goal lead to Abidjan and Yekini proved a hand full to them, notching the first goal and always threatening to cancel both goals before Toyin Ayinla’s wonder rocket from the center of the pitch brought the game to a 1 – 1 scoreline.

Then came the 1990 edition. After dismissing AS Diaraf of Senegal in the first round, Iwuanyanwu Nationale was again drawn to meet African Sports in the second round. The Ivorian champions still  paraded the in – form Yekini, who was still smarting from a good tournament at Algiers 90 African Cup of Nations where his three goals helped an inexperienced Clemens Westerhoff – inspired  Nigerian team to the final.

Yekini scored early in the first half and later saw his penalty parried by Edward Ansah in goal for Nationale. When Ifeanyi Aghenu equalized for the Naze boys, every one thought the Ivorians would be coming for a roasting in the return leg.

As both teams lined up at the then Ogbe Stadium, Benin City, Yekini’s show of patriotism did not go beyond the placing of his right hand on his chest as he sang the Nigerian national anthem with his country men, rather than join his team mates to sing the Ivorian anthem. This endeared him the more to the full capacity crowd at the Ogbe Stadium.

However, that was how far the romance went as the Nigerian nightmare became our nightmare on the evening.

First he set up his Ghanaian strike partner, Kwame Ayew to cancel Thompson Oliha’s first minute goal for Nationale, before scoring the second himself in a dramatic solo run, rounding up the defense duo of Godwin Eke and Okechukwu Uche in the process, to give the Ivorian champions a surprise 2-1 lead at half time.

Although Iwuanyanwu Nationale fought back to win the game 3-2, thanks to Ben Iroha who shook the roof of the net with a penalty kick and the overlapping Okechukwu who scored the winner off a brilliant Thompson Oliha bicycle kick cum through pass, the name on the lips of most soccer fans at the end of the match was Rashidi Yekini, and even Clemens Westerhoff  who was present on the day poured encomiums on him.

When the goals father (apology to Mumini Alao of Complete Football) left for Europe later in the same year to lace his boots for Victoria Setubal of Portugal, not a few fans of Iwuanyanwu Nationale heaved a sigh of relief. Then the Owerri based team seemed to have the birth right to represent Nigeria in the then Sekou Toure Cup, and African Sports with Rashidi Yekini are always likely to be tough customers.