Former Ghanaian international footballer Raphael Dwamena dies after on-pitch collapse

Former Ghanaian international football player Raphael Dwamena has died after collapsing during an Albanian Superiore game on Saturday (11 November).

Dwamena, 28, fell to the ground midway through the first half of his club KF Egnatia's match against Partizani with players from both teams rushing to his aid.

He was stretchered from the field and received first aid before being transferred to the hospital.

In a statement, the Albanian Football Federation said, "Despite the immediate intervention of specialist doctors and all efforts to bring him back to life, the footballer unfortunately passed away."

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) shared its condolences and paid tribute to the forward who made nine appearances for his country from 2017-18 and scored twice on his international debut.

‘’He served his country well and showed class anytime he represented Ghana,” said GFA president Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku.

“This news is hard to take. Our best wishes go to the family at this moment. May the Almighty God find him a peaceful rest.”

Having scored 12 goals in 18 matches for Swiss club FC Zurich, Dwamena was due to join English Premier League club Brighton in 2017 before failing a medical due to the diagnosis of a heart condition. He stayed at Zurich before signing for Spanish side Levante the following year.

When further complications were detected in October 2019, Dwamena was advised to retire from football. But he was fitted with an implantable cardiovascular defibrillator (ICD) and resumed his career.

In October 2021, he collapsed while playing for Austrian club BW Linz but recovered before joining KF Egnatia last December.

Dwamena scored 11 goals in 18 appearances to lead Egnatia to third place in the Albanian top flight. He found the net nine times in the 10 games this campaign before his untimely passing.