A Ghanaian footballer, Raphael Dwamena died on Saturday shortly after collapsing on the pitch during a league match in Albania.
Albanian Football Federation said the striker aged 28 was playing for Egnatia against Partizani when the incident happened.
“Despite the immediate intervention of specialist doctors he unfortunately passed away,” the federation said in a statement.
Saturday’s match was abandoned and the federation has now postponed all games scheduled in Albania this week.
“The AFL expresses its deepest condolences to the Dwamena family and the Egnatia club for this great loss that has shocked the entire Albanian football community,” the federation added.
Raphael Dwamena’s final moments in the game today in Albania League.
RIP to him pic.twitter.com/5rWgiZMIIc
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) November 11, 2023
Dwamena was the leading goal scorer in the Albanian league this season with nine goals.
His health condition has been publicized extensively in the past with a proposed £14m move to Brighton falling through in 2017 after he failed a medical.
In 2021 he collapsed during a cup match in Austria between his side Blau-Weiss Linz and Hartberg.
A respected CAF Medical officer reckons it is time for Raphael Dwamena to consider quitting football for the sake of his health. #JoySports pic.twitter.com/wfTeHjmt8Q
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) October 29, 2021
Heart operation
Dwamena had a heart operation with an automatic defibrillator implanted to help him continue with his career.
He represented Levante in La Liga and also played for Real Zaragoza on loan all in Spain.
“Our thoughts are with his family and his loved ones in these difficult moments. His legacy in our club will last forever,” Levante said on social media.
Zaragoza also paid tribute, saying: “We are devastated by the sad news of the passing of our former player Raphael Dwamena. You will always be in the memory of Zaragoza´s fans. Rest in peace.”
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) commented on the incident by sending “our deepest condolences to his family at this difficult moment”.
Our thoughts are with Raphael Dwamena’s family in this difficult moment. He proudly represented us 9 times and scored 2 goals.
Rest in Peace, Raphael 💔🕊 pic.twitter.com/LY8eYBabGA
— 🇬🇠Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) November 11, 2023
The player had won nine caps and scored two goals for his country.
“He served his country well and showed class any time he represented Ghana,” GFA president Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku said in a statement.
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Source: Africafeeds.com
