Opoku Afriyie
Ghanaian footballer (1955–2020)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Opoku Afriyie (February 2, 1955 - March 29, 2020) was a Ghanaian footballer. He was popularly called Bayie. He played as a striker and won many caps with Asante Kotoko and the Ghana national football team. He worked for Asante Kotoko as Team-Manager.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | February 2, 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Accra, Ghana | ||
| Date of death | 29 March 2020 (aged 65)[1][2] | ||
| Place of death | Kumasi, Ghana | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Asante Kotoko | |||
| Accra Hearts of Oak | |||
| International career | |||
| Ghana | 4 | (2) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Opoku Afriyie played for Asante Kotoko for several years before signing for Hearts of Oak prior to ending his footballing career.[3] He was the top scorer in the Ghana domestic football league in 1979 and again in 1981.[4] In 1982, he was nominated for the French magazine France Football African Footballer of the Year. He came eighth.[5] Opoku Afriyie is among 20 other Ghanaians nominated by CAF out of a total of 200 African footballers for the title of the best African player of the last 50 years.[6]
International career
He was a member of the squad that won the 1978 African Cup of Nations making Ghana the first team to win it thrice.[7] He scored the two goals in the final of that tournament.[8] He also played in the 1980 African Cup of Nations where Ghana failed to defend its title.[9]
Coaching career
Opoku Afriyie was appointed team manager of Asante Kotoko in 2003.[3] He has also served as the team manager and welfare officer of the Black Stars.
Honours
Club
Asante Kotoko[10]
- Ghana Premier League: 1980, 1981
- Ghanaian FA Cup: 1978
International
Ghana
Individual
- Africa Cup of Nations top scorer: 1978
- Ghana Premier League Top scorer: 1979, 1981[12]
