Sports administrators, top government officials from across the country as well as sportsmen and women in their thousands yesterday stormed Ira town,the country home of the ex-Super Eagles striker in Kwara State, late Rashidi Yekini for his 8th-day Fidau prayers.

At the ceremony, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) assured that the late football maestro, Rashidi Yekini will get all the national honours he deserved as it donated N500, 000 for the family he left behind adding that it would launch an annual U-15 National Championship in honour of late Yekini, and also recommend to the Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission, for him to be given a post-humous National Award.

“Also, we plan to organize a Memorial Match in his honour, which will bring together players of his USA '94 Class and a Nigeria Selected, which will be played at the Ilorin Township Stadium,” Maigari said at the palace of the Onira of Ira, Oba Abdulwahab Oyetoro.

The NFF President, Aminu Maigari, who took permission to leave the venue for other national engagements and spoke through his vice president, Chief Mike Umeh, added that many other programmes had been lined up to honour the worthy football ambassador.

Maigari also hinted that an international soccer duel would soon be organised to honour Rashidi Yekini, adding that the proceeds made from the gate takings would go to family and children left behind by the ace soccer hero.

In a sermon at the programme, the Chief Imam of Offa, Sheikh Muideen Salman said that, it was high time that all muslims and christian faithful ensured that they do good deeds while on earth, stressing that it is by so doing that their deeds will provide them a sort of blessings in the life hereafter as he prayed for the soul of late Yekini to rest in perfect peace.

The cleric also used the occasion to advise the government to always strive hard to honour the nation's heroes while they are alive, adding that a situation where the nation's heroes are honoured after their death is against the will of Almighty Allah.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who spoke through the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Abdulrazag Atunwa, extolled the virtues of the late football giant, saying foreigners recognise every Nigerian as Rashidi Yekini in foreign countries.

He described the death of Rashidi Yekini as a loss to Africa and the world football family in general and prayed for the repose of his soul, asking God to serve as fortress for the family and children he left behind.

Also speaking, Kwara state's sports commissioner, Kayode Towoju, said the state government would continue to encourage young talents in the state towards achieving their potentials in life, noting that Yekini did not only make the state proud throughout his football career, but also contributed to national sports development and progress.