When Eagles soared

Having converted a low cross from the right to give Nigeria the lead against Bulgaria, Yekini stood in the goal, arms through the net, hands alternately clenched around the strings and clasped to his face as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Rashidi Yekini died on Friday, aged just 48. He was one of the greats of the Nigerian game and was responsible for one of the great World Cup moments — probably, after Marco Tardelli’s in the 1982 final, the greatest World Cup celebration.

Having converted a low cross from the right to give Nigeria the lead against Bulgaria, the Super Eagles’ first goal in the final stages of a World Cup, he stood in the goal, arms through the net, hands alternately clenched around the strings and clasped to his face as tears rolled down his cheeks.