The Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) has commended the Federal Government for recognising late football legend, Rashidi Yekini, with a posthumous Member Order of the Niger (MON) award.
The late Yekini, who hailed from Irra, Oyun Council of Kwara State, was an integral part of the Super Eagles’ golden era. He made history in 1994 when he fired Nigeria to the World Cup in the U.S.A and even scored the country’s first-ever goal at the competition.
The late Yekini was among 11 outstanding personalities from Kwara, and 456 Nigerians, who were conferred with national honours. He was also one of the two Kwara indigenes that got the award posthumously. The other was Chief Superintendent of Police, Benedict Okoh Ajide.
According to a statement signed by Kwara SWAN Secretary, Olayinka Owolewa, the honour is a recognition of the contributions of the late striker to the development of football in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
While describing the late awardee as a true patriot, who paid his dues, both at national and international levels with various clubs, SWAN commended the Federal Government on its decision to honour the late Yekini for his services to his fatherland.
Late Yekini, the all-time top goal scorer for Nigeria, had a successful professional career, which spanned more than two decades. He was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries besides his own.
Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international footballer, and represented the nation in seven major tournaments, including two World Cups, where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition.