Former Benin Republic international, Razak Omotoyossi, has died at the age of 39. The cause of his death has not yet been made public.
Omotoyossi, who was born in Nigeria before switching allegiance to represent Benin, became one of the most iconic figures in the nation’s football history. Over the course of his international career, he earned 55 caps and scored 21 goals, cementing his place as one of the Squirrels’ all-time leading scorers.
He rose to continental prominence during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, when he scored all four goals in Benin’s stunning 4-1 victory over Togo. His remarkable performance saw him finish as joint top scorer of the qualifiers, sharing the spotlight with Cameroon’s legendary striker, Samuel Eto’o.
At club level, Omotoyossi’s career spanned several continents. He first made his mark in Sweden with Helsingborgs IF, where he competed in the UEFA Champions League, before moving on to France to join FC Metz. His football journey also took him across Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, reflecting his global footprint as a striker.
Omotoyossi’s death marks the end of a remarkable life in football, remembered for his goalscoring prowess and his contributions to the rise of Beninese football on the African stage.
