Henry Nwosu, Eguavoen, Adepoju others honour late Rashidi Yekini in Ibadan

The former teammates of the late football icon marked the memorial of his death with a novelty match.

Former national team players and ex-teammates of Africa’s football legend, Rashidi Yekini, on Friday took to the pitch for a novelty match in remembrance of the late icon.

Leading the roll call of ex-internationals on parade was Henry Nwosu and Mutiu Adepoju who starred for the Lagos All Stars and Ibadan All Stars team respectively.

The Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan came alive with the ex-internationals still showing off some of the skills that endeared them to the heart of many Nigerians.

Made up of former internationals, some of whom were teammates of the late Yekini, the Ibadan and Lagos All Stars teams gave the fans something to cheer about even as they remembered the late football icon.

The Ibadan side won novelty match by 2-1.

Former Barcelona and Shooting Stars defensive midfielder, Gbenga Okunowo, as well as Yekini’s former teammate and close associate, Mutiu Adepoju were the goal scorers for the Ibadan All Stars team.

While Okunowo scored from the penalty spot, Adepoju scored his goal with his trademark header that once earned him the alias, Headmaster. Jide Adeniran scored the solitary goal for the Lagos side who were unable to match the firepower of their Ibadan counterparts.

Speaking after the match most of the players chorused the heroics of Yekini and his humble nature till death. They want the government and the NFF to do more in immortalising the hero.

“Yekini will forever remain dear in our heart. I don’t know if anybody can come out to say he did one bad thing or the other,” one of the stars on parade, Dimeji Lawal, offered after the novelty match.

The long list of ex-players in Ibadan for Yekini on Friday includes Ike Shorunmu, Taju Disu, Mike Onyemachura, Austin Eguavoen, Dimeji Lawal, Gbenga Okunowo, Mutiu Adepoju, Bright Omokaro, and
Ajibade Babalade.

Yekini, who is Nigeria’s all-time highest goal scorer died in Ibadan on May 4, 2012 at the age of 48 and was interred the next day in his home town in Irra, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.