Early Life and Nigerian Roots
Razak Omotoyossi was born on 8 October 1985 in Lagos, Nigeria. He began his career in the Nigerian Professional Football League with Sunshine Stars.
However, his path was nearly cut short when the Nigeria Football Federation handed him a five-year ban for allegedly assaulting a referee in a league match against Enyimba. By then, Omotoyossi had already crossed into neighbouring Benin, where he switched nationality in 2004.
Read Also: Nigerian-born Beninese footballer Razak Omotoyossi dies at 39
Switching Allegiance to Benin
Later that same year, he started his professional career with JS Pobè in Benin and chose to represent the Cheetahs at the international level. His decision proved decisive as he went on to become one of Benin’s most celebrated footballers.
Record With the National Team
Omotoyossi earned 55 caps for Benin, scoring 21 goals, a tally that places him among the nation’s all-time leading scorers.
He scored Benin’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup final during a 1-1 draw with Australia at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.
In 2007, he scored in a friendly against Senegal in Rouen, France.
His defining moment came in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where he scored all four goals in Benin’s 4-1 win over Togo, finishing the campaign as joint top scorer with Samuel Eto’o.
He also became the first player to score for Benin at the AFCON finals.
Club Career Across the Globe
Omotoyossi enjoyed an expansive club career that spanned Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
He featured in South Africa, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Moldova.
His most successful spell came in Sweden with Helsingborgs IF, where he played in the UEFA Champions League and built a reputation as a prolific striker.
His exploits earned him a move to FC Metz in France, followed by stints in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Legacy in African Football
Renowned for his pace, clinical finishing, and hunger for goals, Omotoyossi was regarded as a national hero in Benin and admired across Africa.
His passing at 38 represents a significant loss for Beninese football and the wider African game. An official statement from Benin’s football authorities is expected in the coming days.
