Sports

Posthumous Birthday: Google Honours Rashidi Yekini with Doodle

Published

9 months ago

October 23, 2023

Eric

Today’s Doodle celebrates Nigerian footballer Rashidi Yekini, who is remembered for being the top goalscorer of the nation and widely considered one of the best Nigerian athletes of all time.

Today’s Doodle celebrates iconic Nigerian footballer Rashidi Yekini, an accomplished forward nicknamed the “Goalsfather” for his ability to sneak shots by the keeper. On this day in 1963, he was born in Kaduna, Nigeria.

The beginning of Yekini’s life was difficult as he faced homelessness and poverty. To make money, his first jobs were a welder and mechanic, but his true goal was to pursue football. He soon began playing in front of scouts and in 1981, he joined his first football club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna.

The talented striker played for the Shooting Stars next, scoring an impressive 45 goals in 53 games. His spectacular scoring abilities earned him the title of African Footballer of the Year in 1983, and he was the first Nigerian player to receive this honor. The next year, he helped bring the Shooting Stars to the finals of the African Champions Cup.

Outside of Nigeria, he also played for football clubs in Spain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Tunisia, Switzerland, and Greece. While playing for a Portuguese team called Vitória Setúbal, he won the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) for being the league’s top-scoring player in the 1993-94 season.

Yekini helped Nigeria’s national team, nicknamed the Super Eagles, qualify for the 1994 World Cup. Nigeria played Bulgaria on June 21st, and Yekini made it a game to remember. Not only did he score the first goal of the game, but also the first World Cup goal for Nigeria. Overcome with excitement and pride, he ran into the net and clutched it with both arms while cheering and crying tears of joy. Many consider it one of the most iconic goal celebrations in football history and it served as inspiration for today’s Doodle artwork.

He went on to play for the Super Eagles for a little over 14 years, including another shot at the World Cup in 1998. In his 58 games for Nigeria, he scored 37 times, and to this day holds the record for most goals scored for the country.

Happy birthday, Rashidi Yekini!

Source: Google

Sports

Spain Berth in Euro 2024 Final, Beat France in Dramatic Comeback

Published

2 weeks ago

July 9, 2024

Eric

Spain have book a place in the final of the Euro 2024 championship after a 2-1 win against France on Tuesday night.

Dani Olmo’s 25th-minute right-footed strike sealed the Spanish side’s victory at the Allianz Arena, Germany.

Spain will face either the Netherlands or England in the competition’s final on July 14.

France opened scoring in the eighth minute through R. Kolo Muani before two quick goals from Spain’s L. Yamal in the 21st minute, and D. Olmo in the 25th sealed victory for the Spaniards.

Sports

Finidi George Quits As Super Eagles Coach

Published

1 month ago

June 15, 2024

Eric

Newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, has resigned his appointment, according to a post by ex-Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye on X.com on Saturday.

He wrote, “News just in. Finidi George #FinidiGeorge_FG has resigned from his #NGSuperEagles manager position.”

The resignation follows the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to appoint a foreign coach to oversee him, despite his recent appointment in May.

Sports

Finidi Flop: NFF Mulls Employment of Expatriate Technical Adviser

Published

1 month ago

June 13, 2024

Eric

The Nigeria Football Federation has decided to appoint an expatriate Technical Adviser to oversee the Super Eagles.

This move comes ahead of the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers and the remaining 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, and is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

The decision was contained in a communiqué made available to newsmen on Thursday.

According to the communiqué, the Executive Committee of NFF held a meeting on Wednesday, to deliberate on important issues.

“The Executive Committee wholeheartedly apologised to Nigerians for the dismal output and subsequent very poor returns of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, in four out of 10 matches in the ongoing qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals,” the communiqué partly read.

They assured Nigerians that they will put necessary measures in place to ensure a better-prepared squad ahead of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in September and the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers.

“The Executive Committee resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

“The committee resolved to beef up the NFF Technical Department with more qualitative hands. Equally, the Technical and Development Sub-Committee will be re-jigged with immediate effect,” the communique added.

The Board also expressed displeasure with the poor attitude of some of the players “notwithstanding the challenges that attended the team’s preparations for the Day 3 and Day 4 games of the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, owing to a 38-hour nationwide industrial action.”

The board decided in favour of a more robust scouting programme of outstanding Nigeria-eligible players from across the globe, “who can add tremendous value to the nation’s flagship team.”

Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George, came under criticisms after the Eagles suffered a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic on Monday on match-day 4 of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The defeat leaves the Super Eagles with a disappointing three points out of a potential 12, following a string of draws in their opening three matches.

The former international was appointed new head coach of the Nigerian men national team on April 29, 2024.