Yekini was born in Kaduna in 1963. After starting his professional career in the Nigerian league, he moved to the Ivory Coast to play for Africa Sports. From there he went to Portugal and Vitoria de Setubal, where he experienced his most memorable years, eventually becoming the Portuguese first division's top scorer, in the 1993–94 season with 34 goals in 32 matches.
His performances in the Nigerian shirt that season (our first World Cup participation and most recent Nations Cup win happened then) earned him the title of African Footballer of the Year in 1993, the first ever Nigerian player to win it.
After the 1994 World Cuo, Yekini moved to Olympiakos FC in Greece, but failed to get going, so left. His career never really got back on track, not even upon a return to Setúbal, which happened after another unassuming spell, in La Liga with Sporting de Gijon. He successively played with FC Zürich, Club Atletique Bizertin and Al-Shabab Riyadh, before rejoining Africa Sports.
In 2003, at 39, he returned to the Nigerian league with Julius Berger FC. In 2005, 41-year old Yekini made a short comeback, playing for Gateway FC.
Rashid Yekini, who had been divorced since 1994 lived a solitary life with a few tenants in his house in Ibadan, Oyo State where it is reported that he rarely received visitors.
Yekini was 49 years old. He is survived by two kids. He will be buried tomorrow according to Muslim rites in Irah, Kwara State.
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