Ghana FA mourns African legends Yekini, Bocande

Accra, May 8, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has paid tributes to African football greats, Rashidi Yekini and Jules Bocande who died on Friday and Monday respectively.

Yekini, the former Nigeria international striker, died on Friday at the age of 48, whilst Senegal striker Jules Bocande died on Monday at the age of 54.

A statement signed by Kwesi Nyantakyi President of the GFA copied to GNA Sports said, "On behalf of the GFA, I would like send a message of sincere condolences to the families of Yekini and Bocande at this time of their loss.

"We were deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the untimely deaths of Yekini and Bocande.

"As the football fraternity in Ghana mourns the loss of these African greats. We would also like to extend our condolences to the football fraternity in Nigeria and Senegal”. The statement noted.

It added that, "This is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the families of the two legends of African football at this terrible time."

Yekini was the first Nigerian to take the continental crown and played a key role in his country's greatest football moments, scoring their first ever goal at the World Cup, against Bulgaria at USA '94, and led Nigeria to win the Africa Cup of Nations in the same year.

Yekini is Nigeria's top international scorer, with 37 goals from 58 games.

Bocande on the other hand, finished top scorer of France's Ligue 1 championship in 1985-86, played for his country in the 1980s and 1990s.

He worked as assistant coach to Frenchman Bruno Metsu as the Teranga Lions stunned the world by reaching the quarter-finals.

GNA