Ghanaian Football Legend Wilberforce Mfum Passes Away at 88
Ghanaian football icon Wilberforce Mfum has passed away at the age of 88, following a brief illness, on May 11, 2025. A celebrated striker for both Asante Kotoko and the Ghana national team, Mfum leaves behind a lasting legacy in African football history.
Fondly nicknamed “The Bulldozer” for his powerful style of play, Mfum etched his name in the record books by scoring Ghana’s first-ever goal at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1963. He further cemented his legacy in that same tournament by scoring twice in the final against Sudan, helping the Black Stars clinch their maiden AFCON title.
Mfum was remarkably prolific on the international stage, netting 20 goals in just 26 appearances for the national team. He also represented Ghana at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
At the club level, Mfum began his career with Asante Kotoko before moving abroad. In 1968, he joined the Baltimore Bays in the National Professional Soccer League. He later played for Ukrainian SC in the German American Soccer League in 1969, and the following year, he turned out for the Ukrainian Nationals in the American Soccer League, where he shared the league’s top scorer title with Juan Paletta.
In 1971, Mfum signed with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League, adding another chapter to his impressive international career.
Mfum’s contributions to Ghanaian and international football are indelible, and he will be remembered as one of the country’s greatest sporting heroes.
