Ghana’s Dwamena dies on pitch during Albanian Super League match

November 13 – Former Ghana international striker Raphael Dwamena has died after collapsing Saturday during an Albanian Super League match at the age of 28.

The Albanian Football Federation confirmed the tragedy as footage on social media appeared to show the player falling over in the 24th minute of the match between Dwamena’s Egnatia and Partizani.

Other players rushed over and, despite immediate medical intervention, the federation said “the player unfortunately passed away.” The game was halted at 1-1 with no further play.

Dwamena, this season’s top scorer with nine goals in the Albanian Super League, made nine appearances for Ghana and scored twice. His career also included stints in Spain, Denmark and Switzerland.

“The Ghana Football Association is sad to hear of the death of our former player Raphael Dwamena and wish to express our deepest condolences to his family at this difficult moment,” the federation said in a statement.

No details over a possible cause were given by the Albanians but local media reports focused on the player’s previous heart problems, including one game in 2021 with Austria’s Blau-Veis Linz when he was hospitalised after which doctors reportedly called on him to retire.

Four years earlier, a move to Premier League club Brighton that would have been worth €11.4 million fell through when he failed a medical based on his heart issues.

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