Yekini not below any African striker, says ex-Real Madrid star

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Former Super Eagles and Real Madrid midfielder Mutiu Adepoju insists Rasheed Yekini should not be compared with other African strikers.

The Eagles’ all-time leading scorer bowed out to legendary Egypt forward Hossam Hassan in the African Legends Cup of Nations’ first round.

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7 years after, we celebrate a legend Rashidi Yekini, one of Nigeria's greatest striker ever, passed away 7 years ago, on May 4th, 2012. He was 48 years old at the time. Yekini represented Nigeria at 5 African Nations Cup competitions (1984, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994), winning one bronze medal, three silver medals and one gold medal. He also represented Nigeria at two World Cups, USA '94 and France '98. He is the highest goal scorer ever for Nigeria's men's senior national team (the Super/Green Eagles) with 37 goals in total. Yekini was the highest goal scorer in Portuguese club football in the 1992/1993 season and he was also the highest goal scorer in the Primiera Liga in the 1993/1994 season. Yekini played for IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, with whom he got to the final of the African Champions Cup (now known as the African Champions League) in 1984 (they lost to Zamalek of Egypt). He later played for Abiola Babes (one of the two millionaire clubs in Nigeria at the time) before leaving Nigeria to play professional football. He played for Africa Sports in the Ivory Coast, Vitoria Setubal in Portugal (with whom he achieved his greatest success), Olympiakos of Greece, Sporting Gijon in Spain and F.C. Zurich in Switzerland before returning to Nigeria. #RasheedYekini #Legend #Football #Nigeria #Striker

A post shared by Splash FM 105.5 Ibadan (@splashfm1055) on May 3, 2019 at 11:23pm PDT

Notwithstanding Yekini winning three of the four categories, he failed to progress to the Round of 16 against Hassan who was dominant at club level where he was a serial and record-breaking winner in Egypt.

His former international teammate, Adepoju who was also part of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations squad insists the 1993 African Player of the Year winner is not below any African striker’s rank.

“Yekini was a goal poacher who was born to score goals and he got them [the goals] at the very right time,” the La Liga ambassador was quoted as saying to Goal.

“Whenever he was in a good position, you will see him asking for the ball and he would complete the job using his speed and shot.

“I remember in one of the 1994 World Cup qualifiers against Congo in Brazzaville, the game was a tension-soaked affair.

“Despite getting there via a chartered flight, the atmosphere was very hostile but we were able to play our hearts out and Yekini got the only goal of the game through his effort.

“It was a beautiful goal as his terrific shot caught the goalkeeper unawares.”

“During his time, Yekini was a striker per excellence who never played second-fiddle to anyone in Africa. He was a striker in his own class.

Tough duel
Great football legends

In the end, Hassan takes a step further to #ALCON Round of 1⃣ 6⃣! pic.twitter.com/uphSV4HPbN

— Goal Africa (@GoalAfrica) April 29, 2020

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“It was always a nice feeling seeing him lead the frontline because the midfielders know that when he gets the ball, he would definitely get something out of it.

“Although, he never played in the Champions League but I can say he was very good and I can say he is not inferior to any other great strikers produced.”

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