Rashidi Yekini, former Nigeria striker, dies at 48

Published May. 5, 2012 8:24 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria's all-time leading scorer who netted his country's first World Cup goal, has died. He was 48.

Ben Alaiya, a spokesman for Nigeria's national team, said Yekini died late Friday and would be buried before sundown on Saturday in his native Kwara state.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Yekini scored Nigeria's first ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria during the 1994 tournament, and celebrated by running into the goal and clutching the net in what became an iconic image for his country. The 6-foot-3 (190-centimeter) striker scored 37 goals in 58 appearance for the Super Eagles.

He had playing stints with Olympiakos in Greece and Sporting Gijon in Spain during a nomadic playing career. He retired in 2003, and made a brief comeback two years later.