Soccer Player Dead at 28 Years Old After Collapsing on Pitch

A former Ghanaian international soccer player passed away after collapsing during a match. The young athlete, who had a pre-existing heart condition, continued to play driven by his passion for the sport. Regrettably, he succumbed to this tragic incident at the age of 28.

Raphael Dwamena, a former Ghanaian striker who was actively involved with Egnatia in the Albanian Super League, experienced a collapse while participating in a match against Partizani. Swift medical assistance was administered by attending players, yet tragically, as per the Ghana Football Association’s announcement, the young athlete passed away within minutes after being transported to a nearby hospital.

Dwamena’s collapse occurred just 24 minutes into the game, prompting both teams to halt play. With each side securing a single point, the match concluded in a draw.

As reported by Ghana Web, Dwamena became aware of his medical condition when he did not pass a health examination for Brighton, the English team, in 2018. Subsequently, he joined Levante, which loaned him to Zaragoza. However, in 2019, Zaragoza terminated his contract based on the recommendation of their medical professional following another unsuccessful medical examination. In a bid to address his desperate situation, the determined athlete underwent the implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator in 2020. Vejle Boldklub, a Danish team, brought him on board. 

Unfortunately, just two months later, his contract was terminated as ongoing heart issues were identified by medical professionals.

In 2021, BW Linz, the Austrian team, extended an opportunity to him, but in November of that year, he faced his first heart attack, occurring roughly 20 minutes into a game while on the sideline. Despite temporarily withdrawing from the sport, his undying passion for playing fueled a triumphant return in December 2022, when he joined Egnatia. Dwamena had dominated as the top scorer in the league for the ongoing season, amassing a remarkable total of twelve goals and contributing one assist.