Nigerian football Legend Rashidi Yekini - Dead at 48

Remembered by many for his exploits at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, Rashidi Yekini will forever have a place in the hearts and minds of Super Eagles and other football fans following Nigeria's first ever goal in the tournament, 

The former Nigeria international passed away on Friday in Ibadan after suffering from mental illness for the past two years.

 

The ex-striker, who was only 48, is Nigeria's all-time record goalscorer after netting 37 times in 58 matches for the Super Eagles.

His body will be taken to Offa to be buried, Yekini's home town in Kwara State.

Born in Kaduna on October 23, 1963, Yekini will be famously remembered for his iconic goal celebration after scoring Nigeria's first-ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria in the 1994 edition of the competition in the USA.

He latched on to a cross from Finidi George to score the first ever goal for Nigeria at the World Cup, prompting Yekini to run into the goal post, grabbing the net, and shaking it endlessly while screaming to the high heavens in celebration of what would be an iconic goal for the country's football.

Yekini began his career at UNTL Kaduna in 1981 before spending the next nine years in his native Africa. Yekini then moved to Europe, where he enjoyed a successful four-year spell at Vitoria Setubal in Portugal where he was the Primeira Liga's top scorer in the 1993-94 season.

He later enjoyed playing in Greece, Spain, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia before eventually calling time on his playing career in 2003 with Nigerian club, Julius Berger.

Yekini made a brief turnaround on his retirement in 2005, when at 41 years old, he joined Gateway United for a short spell.

A player who was a pioneer for Nigerian football in many ways, his time in Europe opened doors for many players that followed behind him, and he was a role model for many, including players who would have been considered among his peers at the time.

Yekini not only scored Nigeria's first World Cup goal, he also become the first Nigerian to win the African Player of the Year award in 1993, providing Super Eagles fans with hope that Nigerian football had much to offer and would be a force on the continent in the year to follow.

He added to that achievement and realised that prophecy of success by helping Nigeria to win the Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994. Yekini scored five goals to win the top scorer award at that tournament, and is the only player to have won the Afcon title as a reigning African Player of the Year ever since.

His record-breaking antics will go down in history at a time when Nigeria enjoyed perhaps their best generation thus far.

Truly one of the greats in Nigerian football, off the pitch he was a quiet man and did little to mirror the great stature and power he commanded on a football field. A goal scorer of great technique and a calm touch in front of goal, Yekini is the kind of player that modern footballers should aspire to emulate.

The man was well respected by the fans, his peers and authorities, and his passing will be mourned by many in Nigeria and around the world.

GOAL

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It's official - Arsenal coming to Nigeria for pre-season match

English Premier League club Arsenal will travel to Nigeria for a pre-season match in Abuja on 5 August. 

According to the organisers, DanJan Sports, Arsenal's opposition are likely to be a leading African national team.

It will be the first time the Gunners have played in Nigeria.

"We are working on the opposition and once that is finalised we will announce it to the public in conjunction with the London club," David Omigie of DanJan Sports said.

"Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and the club with arguably the biggest fan base in the country is visiting in August."

On their official website Arsenal said: "The club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993, and is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent."

The club traditionally hosts an annual pre-season tournament at the Emirates Stadium, but they opted to postpone the event for a year because of the 2012 London Olympics.

The visit to Nigeria will conclude Arsenal's pre-season tour after playing in both China and Malaysia in July.

In July 2008, DanJan Sports brought two other English clubs,Manchester United and Portsmouth, to the Nigerian capital Abuja for a pre-season friendly.

As well as the match between the two, Portsmouth also played against Nigeria Premier League side Kano Pillars.

But DanJan Sports plan to go a step further this time around.

"We learned a lot from the 2008 tour and this one is going to be bigger," Omigie told BBC Sport.

"Arsene Wenger wanted a detailed plan and information. Facilities and other areas were well covered by the club.

"This is the beginning of big things between the club and the continent of Africa."

According to speculation in the local media Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Egypt are all among the potential opponents for the Gunners.

BBC

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34 killed as gunmen open fire at Cattle market in Potiskum, Nigeria

An attack on a cattle market in northeastern  city of Potiskum by gunmen armed with explosives has left at least 34 dead and the toll is likely to climb, an emergency source said on Thursday.

“Thirty-four bodies were deposited at the hospital,” the official said on condition of anonymity of the attack late Wednesday in Potiskum because he was not authorised to speak publicly.

He said the toll was likely to be more than 50 dead because families were also burying relatives’ bodies without bringing them to the hospital.

A gang of gunmen with explosives have attacked a cattle market in the city of Potiskum, burning it down and leaving a number of people dead, residents and police said Thursday.

The attack late Wednesday was said to be in reprisal for an incident earlier in the day, when the gang sought to rob the market but were fought off by traders who caught one of the attackers, a police source said.

The man who was caught was doused in petrol and a tyre was placed around his neck before he was burnt to death, according to the source and residents.

“There was an attack on Potiskum cattle market yesterday by suspected armed robbers who threw explosives and burnt down the market with all the livestock,” the police official said on condition of anonymity.

“It is too early to say how many people were affected in the attack, which happened at night.”

 Residents reported seeing bodies being taken away, but the number of casualties was unclear.

AFP

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State Security Service arrest Boko Haram bomb maker

The State Security Service (SSS) has arrested a man who allegedly supplies explosives to Boko Haram, which has stepped up its attacks in the last one week.

Ayuba Usman was arrested on Tuesday at his shop in a market in Kano following information from suspected Boko Haram members arrested in raids, the SSS Director in the state, Mr. Nelson Eteng, told reporters Wednesday.

"Based on statements by high profile suspects... Ayuba Usman has been providing combustible chemicals used in the manufacture of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) for attacks on innocent people in the city," Eteng said. "The suspect is found to be linked with extremist elements."

The SSS displayed 35 drums of chemicals of 240 litres each and a dozen bags of combustible items said to have been recovered during the raid on the suspect's shop.

According to Eteng, the suspect was apprehended at one of the markets in Dala Local Government Area of the state.

"The chemicals are controlled. But when we find individuals selling such materials to individuals who turn to harm innocent people, the security will be concerned and that is why we are concerned," he said.

He said the SSS operatives in the state would go deeper into the case in order to know their network with a view to tracking down their accomplices, adding that investigation would continue until the perpetrators were arrested and punished.

Eteng said: "We are closing on very many suspects who are on the run, and the intelligence networking is working closely to get them very soon."

He said the people of Kano are so tired of what is happening and are helping with information.

Last Sunday, gunmen attacked two church services at Bayero University Kano (BUK), throwing bombs and opening fire on worshippers as they sought to flee, leaving dozens dead.

A high-calibre time bomb was also discovered at another of the university's campuses in Kano and defused by a bomb squad the following day.

Dozens of IEDs were recovered on Tuesday in a military raid on an alleged Boko Haram hideout in the city which left one suspected militant dead.

Meanwhile, police authorities yesterday reacted to the threat by Boko Haram to attack more media houses by beefing up security around them.

Acting Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar said the force was aware of the threat and that he had directed commissioners of police across the country to tighten security.

He advised media houses to contact commissioners of police in their states if their outfit is vulnerable.

The IG however reiterated that the police and other security agencies were working hard to overcome the security challenges and blamed their underperformance on underfunding, lack of training and ill equipment.

But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Wednesday in Abuja issued a "final warning" to the Federal Government that any failure on the part of government to halt the incessant attacks by the Boko Haram would leave the body with no choice than to defend its members.

Addressing a press conference at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the body's position was based on the inability of Boko Haram sponsors to be reasonable.

"You will recall in our last press conference, we told the nation that the bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians may be termed senseless but that is not without sense for those sponsoring the acts. Their plan is to instil fear with the subsequent aim of eradicating religious freedom, democratic liberties with the church and Christianity as is primary target," he said.

Oritsejafor explained that "the Nigerian nation and the global community have been witnesses to the step-by-step escalation of violence against innocent citizens with the Christians and the church suffering the greatest loss."

The association stated that given the continuous launch of attacks by Boko Haram, it is immaterial to discuss the source.

"At this point in the unfolding insecurity challenges, it has become irrelevant whether the root cause is political, religious, ethnic or ideological. The fundamental issues are that the intimidation, killings, bombings and wanton destruction of lives and property must stop immediately," CAN maintained.

Speaking on the next line of action, CAN president said though, "I am aware that the greater part of the overall design is to instil fear in the populace, I will now make a final call to the Nigerian government to use all resources available to it to clearly define and neutralise the problem as other nations have done."

The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWCAN) has called for an immediate overhaul of all security agencies.

YOWCAN said since the spate of bombings in the country is difficult for them to stop, there was need for immediate shake-up in the nations' security system.

This Day

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U.S. concerned about Boko Haram attacks on media and churches

Expressing its concerns in a statement issued by Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, US also described as "disgraceful assault", the attack on church services at the Bayero University Kano (BUK) where two professors and several students were gruesomely killed.

Condemning attempts to inflame Christian-Muslim tensions, US expressed support for "those who recognise Nigeria's ethnic and religious diversity as one of the country's greatest strengths."

While "strongly" condemning attacks on innocent civilians in Nigeria, US said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who were killed and injured."

Also speaking with THISDAY in New York, former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell, agreed that the Boko Haram challenges had assumed a dangerous trend with the attacks on media offices and places of religious congregation.

Campbell, reacting to the attack on THISDAY offices in Abuja and Kaduna, and the attack at church service in BUK said: "One is an attack on the freedom of the press, the other is an attack on the freedom of religion. Both must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."

Noting the dangerous twist in the upsurge of Boko Haram attacks, the former US envoy said, "Why THISDAY was attacked, I don't know. THISDAY, of course, is a major Nigerian newspaper with circulation all over the country."

Campbell, who had consistently maintained his opposition to calls to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation, said the increasing wave of attacks by the sect hadn't changed his position.

He said Boko Haram appeared to him as a highly defused organisation, and "does not appear to be a tightly organised entity."

He suggested that the Boko Haram challenge should be tackled politically, arguing that Nigeria should adopt, "a political approach to northern isolation, northern alienation which are the oxygen that Boko Haram is breathing."

On recent reports showing a nexus between Boko Haram and Al Qaeda, and whether Nigeria should tackle the Boko Haram challenge the way US had been confronting Al Qaeda, Campbell said: "No, I don't think so. I think that any kind of connection that Boko Haram has with groups outside of Nigeria is not transformative."

He said he did not believe that such connections, where they exist, "shape what Boko Haram is doing."

Campbell said, "Boko Haram seems to me to be essentially focused on domestic and internal developments in Nigeria."

This Day

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