Raphael Dwamena, the Ghanaian forward, met a tragic end after collapsing on the pitch due to a heart attack during the Albanian Superliga match between Egnatia and Partizani. The distressing incident occurred in the 23rd minute of the league game on Saturday.
Dwamena was in incredible form for Egnatia this season, scoring 12 goals in as many games in the league and Europa Conference League qualifying matches.
He joined the Albanian side in January from Swiss side BSC Old Boys. He also represented the likes of Levante, FC Zurich and Real Zaragoza, among others.
He made his Ghana debut in June 2017 and scored two goals in that game. He made eight appearances overall for the national team.
This devastating news sheds light on Dwamena's history with a pre-existing heart condition. Years prior, he had faced a similar collapse on the field, leading to medical advice urging him to quit football. Consequently, Real Zaragora FC had to terminate his contract due to the identified heart condition.
Despite medical recommendations for retirement in 2019, Dwamena persisted in pursuing his passion for football, even resorting to playing with a defibrillator from January 2020. However, in a tragic repetition of history, heart issues resurfaced in October 2020, and again in October 2021 when he collapsed during a cup game.
Regrettably, his unwavering determination to continue playing ended in an irreversible tragedy. The 28-year-old's determination to stay in the sport despite his health concerns has ultimately led to his untimely demise during the recent match in November 2023.
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football