The late Wilberforce Mfum
Ghanaian football is in mourning following the passing of legendary striker Wilberforce Mfum, who died at the age of 88 after a brief illness.
The sad news was confirmed on Sunday, May 11, 2025, marking the loss of one of the country’s greatest football icons.
Nicknamed “The Bulldozer” for his strength and goal-scoring prowess, Mfum was a key figure in Ghana’s rise on the African football stage.
He made history at the 1963 Africa Cup of Nations by scoring Ghana’s first-ever goal at the tournament and later bagged a brace in the final against Sudan, leading the Black Stars to their maiden continental triumph.
Mfum netted 20 goals in 26 appearances for Ghana and featured at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. At club level, he starred for Asante Kotoko before venturing abroad, where he played in the U.S. for clubs such as Baltimore Bays, Ukrainian SC, Ukrainian Nationals, and New York Cosmos.
In 1970, he was joint top scorer in the American Soccer League and later became one of the early African players in the North American Soccer League. His legacy as a powerful forward and pioneer in international football endures in Ghana’s sporting history.
