RASHIDI YEKINI...Gone but NEVER forgotten!

Today would have been the 50th birthday of the late great Rashidi Yekini.

Born on 23 October 1963, Yekini was a legendary figure in Nigerian football in a career that spanned more than two decades.

Blessed with a thunderous shot off either foot, fearsome aerial presence and a deceptive turn of pace, the man known as "Gangling" or "The Goalsfather" was reputed to have never missed a penalty in his entire career. Following his retirement, he bacame the standard by which subsequent Super Eagles strikers were judged.

He was the all time record holder for goalscoring in the history of the Nigerian national team with 37 goals in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles. He represented the nation in five major tournaments, including two World Cups, where he scored the country's first-ever goal in the competition in a 3-0 win over Bulgaria. His celebration after netting became one the most iconic and enduring images of that tournament.

Additionally, Yekini helped the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations where he also topped the goal charts and was named best player of the tournament. He also participated at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. He was also named as the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter paid tribute to him on his Twitter handle today saying, "Rashidi Yekini would have been 50 today. His name as Nigeria's scorer of Nigeria's first World Cup goal, lives on."

Sadly he died on Friday, May 4, 2012 in controversial circumstances.