Ghanaian striker Raphael Dwamena has passed away after collapsing during a league match in Albania at the age of 28.
Gatekeepers News reports that while playing for Egnatia against Partizani on Saturday, Dwamena’s sudden collapse led to the abandonment of the match.
Despite immediate intervention by specialist doctors, the Albanian Football Federation (AFL) confirmed Dwamena’s unfortunate demise.
The AFL has 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.
The striker was the top scorer in the Albanian league this season, having netted nine goals.
Raphael Dwamena began his career as a youth player at Red Bull Salzburg and went on to play for sides including FC Zurich, Levante and Real Zaragoza.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) expressed deep condolences to Dwamena’s family, acknowledging his significant contributions to Ghanaian football.
“He served his country well and showed class any time he represented Ghana,” GFA president Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku said in a statement.
In 2017 a proposed £14m move to Brighton fell through after Dwamena failed a medical. He went on to represent Levante in La Liga and also played for Real Zaragoza on loan.
In 2021 he collapsed during a cup match in Austria between his side Blau-Weiss Linz and Hartberg, but recovered and continued his playing career.
He reportedly had a heart operation and had an automatic defibrillator implanted.
“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.”
