Rashidi Yekini Biography: Children, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Parents, Cause of Death, Height, Stats

Biography

Rashidi Yekini (23 October 1963 – 4 May 2012) was an iconic Nigerian professional footballer, widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest strikers.

Born in Kaduna, Nigeria, he rose to fame as a prolific goalscorer, most notably for Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, where he won the Primeira Liga top scorer title in 1993-94. Yekini was Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer, netting 37 goals in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles, including Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal in 1994.

Known for his powerful shots and relentless work rate, he played for clubs across Europe and Africa, including Olympiacos, Sporting Gijón, and Gateway United. Yekini passed away in 2012 at age 48, leaving a lasting legacy in Nigerian football.

Nigerian footballer
Rashidi Yekini
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Rashidi Yekini
Stage Name:	Goalsfather
Born:	23 October 1963 (age 48 years old)
Place of Birth:	Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria
State Of Origin:	Kwara State
Died:	4 May 2012 (age 48 years), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Nationality:	Nigerian
Education:	N/A
Height:	1.91 m
Parents:	Sikiratu Yekini, Alhaji YekiniA
Siblings:	Akeem Yekini, Ismaila Yekini, Rofiat Yekini
Spouse:	Kemi Yekini (m. 1994-1994), Adeola Yekini, Victoria Yekini
Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Yemisi Yekini, Musidat Damilola Yekini, Omoyemi Yekini, Damilola Yekini
Occupation:	Footballer
Net Worth:	$1 million-$10 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Rashidi Yekini was born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Of Yoruba descent, his parents hailed from Ira in Kwara State.

His father, Alhaji Yekini, passed away when Rashidi was young, and his mother, Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini, raised him alongside his siblings in Kaduna. Yekini had three known siblings: Akeem Yekini (deceased 2018), Ismaila Yekini, and Rofiat Yekini (deceased 2014). Ismaila is the only surviving sibling residing in Kaduna.

Growing up in Kaduna, Yekini faced significant hardships, including homelessness and poverty. He spoke Hausa fluently and adopted many northern cultural practices despite his Yoruba heritage, which later made his transition to southern Nigeria challenging. His early life was marked by adversity; he reportedly slept in various places and struggled to survive. To support himself, Yekini worked as a trainee welder and mechanic before pursuing a football career.

Yekini’s education was limited, as he barely completed primary school due to his family’s financial struggles and his focus on survival. His passion for football emerged early, and by 1981, he joined his first club, UNTL FC in Kaduna, where his goal-scoring talent caught the attention of scouts.

Regarding religion, Yekini was Muslim, as evidenced by his burial according to Islamic rites in Ira, Kwara State, following his death on May 4, 2012. His Yoruba ethnicity and northern upbringing in Kaduna shaped his identity, blending his Yoruba roots with Hausa cultural influences.

Career

Rashidi Yekini, born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria, is remembered as one of Africa’s most iconic strikers, renowned for his powerful shots, clinical finishing, and goal-scoring brilliance. His football career spanned more than two decades, leaving an indelible mark across Nigeria, Europe, and other parts of the world.

Yekini launched his professional career in 1981 with UNTL FC in Kaduna, where his scoring ability quickly caught the attention of his peers. A year later, he moved to Shooting Stars FC in Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s top clubs, where he sharpened his skills.

By 1984, he joined Abiola Babes in Abeokuta, helping them secure the Nigerian League title and reach the African Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1985. His performance solidified his status as a top striker.

In 1987, Yekini signed with Africa Sports in Ivory Coast, which paved the way for his move to Europe. In 1990, he joined Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, where he enjoyed the most successful period of his career.

During the 1993–94 season, he scored 21 goals in 28 matches, earning the Primeira Liga Golden Boot and being crowned African Footballer of the Year—the first Nigerian to receive the honour. He became a fan favourite, scoring over 90 goals in 114 appearances for Setúbal.

Following his Portuguese success, Yekini had shorter stints in Europe. He played for Olympiacos in Greece (1994–95), Sporting Gijón in Spain (1995–96), and FC Zürich in Switzerland (1997). Although these chapters were less prolific due to adaptation challenges and injuries, he remained a respected figure.

He later returned to Africa Sports in 1998, then had brief spells with clubs in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. In 2002, he returned to Nigeria with Julius Berger FC and concluded his career at Gateway United in Abeokuta in 2005, retiring at the age of 42.

Internationally, Yekini made his debut for the Nigerian national team—the Super Eagles—in 1984. He remains Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, with 37 goals in 58 caps. He was instrumental in Nigeria’s triumph at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and famously scored the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal in the same year against Bulgaria, celebrating memorably by clinging to the net—a moment etched in football history. He also participated in the 1998 World Cup and was part of the 1996 Olympic squad that won gold, although he didn’t feature in any matches.

Nicknamed the “Goalsfather,” Yekini’s career was marked by resilience, determination, and a relentless hunger for goals. However, his post-retirement life was marred by personal struggles, financial difficulties, and reclusiveness. He passed away on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48.

His record 37 goals for Nigeria still stand, and his contribution is honored through tributes such as the Rashidi Yekini Stadium in Ijagun, Ogun State—a testament to a true Nigerian football legend.

Personal Life

Rashidi Yekini, born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna, Nigeria, was 48 years old at the time of his death on May 4, 2012.

Yekini was reportedly married three times. His first wife was Kemi Yekini, with whom he had a daughter, Yemisi Yekini, born around 1994. His second marriage was to Adeola Yekini, with whom he had a daughter, Omoyemi Yekini.

His third wife was Victoria Yekini, with whom he had a daughter, Musidat Damilola Yekini. All three daughters are believed to be pursuing higher education, with Yemisi studying in the United Kingdom and Omoyemi and Damilola in Nigeria. There are unconfirmed reports of a son, but no definitive evidence supports this claim.

Yekini stood at approximately 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) tall, a physical attribute that contributed to his commanding presence as a striker on the football field.

Cause of Death

The cause of Yekini’s death remains controversial. Official reports state he died of heart failure on May 4, 2012, in a private hospital in Ibadan. However, conflicting accounts exist.

Some sources claim he was battling a prolonged illness, possibly bipolar disorder or depression, exacerbated by personal struggles, including financial difficulties and isolation after retirement. His family reportedly took him to a spiritual home in Kwara State for treatment before his death, raising speculation about the circumstances.

An autopsy was not publicly disclosed, leaving the exact cause uncertain. He was buried according to Islamic rites in Ira, Kwara State, on May 5, 2012.

Net Worth

Rashidi Yekini‘s net worth at the time of his death on May 4, 2012, is estimated to have been between $1 million and $10 million, primarily accumulated through his 24-year football career across 13 clubs in seven countries, including lucrative stints in Portugal’s Vitória de Setúbal, where he was the Primeira Liga top scorer in 1993–94.

His wealth also included earnings from endorsements and business ventures, though specifics are scarce. Yekini reportedly lived frugally, saving most of his salaries and living off bonuses, as noted by his close associate Segun Odegbami.

Exact salary details from his playing days are not publicly documented, but his earnings were substantial for an African footballer of his era, reflected in assets like a duplex in Ibadan and a building in Kwara State. Financial struggles in his later years, including a failed business deal, reportedly diminished his wealth.