Former Benin Striker Razak Omotoyossi Passes Away at 39

Nigerian-born Beninese international, Razak Omotoyossi, has died at the age of 39, Sport360NG reports.

His former Swedish club, Helsingborgs IF, confirmed the news on Tuesday, August 19, expressing their condolences to his family and loved ones.
“Helsingborgs IF is in mourning. We have been informed that our former player Razak Omotoyossi has passed away at the age of 39. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones,” the club posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Omotoyossi, who switched allegiance from Nigeria to Benin early in his career, went on to become one of the country’s most prominent football figures. He scored 21 goals in 55 appearances for the national team, cementing his place among Benin’s top scorers of all time.

He is best remembered for his heroics in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, where he scored all four goals in Benin’s 4-1 victory over Togo and finished as joint-top scorer of the campaign alongside Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o. He also etched his name in history as the first player ever to score for Benin at an AFCON finals tournament.

At club level, Omotoyossi enjoyed a diverse career that took him across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. He had spells in South Africa, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Moldova, Sweden, and France. His most successful period came at Helsingborgs IF, where he made a mark in the UEFA Champions League before securing a move to French side FC Metz.