Wilberforce Mfum
Ghanaian footballer (1936–2025)
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Wilberforce Mfum (28 August 1936 – 11 May 2025) was a Ghanaian professional association football forward who played professionally in Ghana and the United States. He was a member of the Ghanaian Olympic soccer team at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 August 1936 | ||
| Place of birth | Gold Coast | ||
| Date of death | 11 May 2025 (aged 88) | ||
| Place of death | Ghana | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1962–1967 | Asante Kotoko | ||
| 1968 | Baltimore Bays | 5 | (4) |
| 1969–1970 | Ukrainian SC | ||
| 1970 | Ukrainian Nationals | 9 | (6) |
| 1971–1972 | New York Cosmos | 15 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 1960–1968 | Ghana | 26 | (20) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Mfum played for Asante Kotoko in Ghana. In 1968, Mfum played for the Baltimore Bays of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1969, he joined Ukrainian SC of the German American Soccer League.[1] In 1970, Mfum played for the Ukrainian Nationals of the American Soccer League. That season, he shared the ASL scoring title with Juan Paletta.[2] In 1971, he signed with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.
International career
Mfum played for the Ghana Olympic football team at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[3] He also played for the Ghana national team. In 1963, he scored two goals in the final of the 1963 African Cup of Nations as Ghana took the title. He was the second leading scorer at the 1968 African Cup of Nations as Ghana finished runner-up.
Death
Mfum died in Ghana on 11 May 2025, at the age of 88.[4]
Career statistics
- Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mfum goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 September 1962 | Nakivubo Stadium, Kampala, Uganda |  Kenya | 6–3 | 1962 Ugandan Independence Tournament | |
| 2 | 10 October 1962 | Nakivubo Stadium, Kampala, Uganda |  Uganda | 4–1 | 1962 Ugandan Independence Tournament | |
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | 15 October 1962 | Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre, Malawi |  Nyasaland | 12–0 | Friendly | |
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | ||||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 8 | ||||||
| 9 | 24 February 1963 | Kumasi Sports Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana |  Nigeria | 5–0 | Kwame Nkrumah Cup | |
| 10 | ||||||
| 11 | 24 November 1963 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana |  Tunisia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1963 African Cup of Nations |
| 12 | 23 February 1964 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana |  East Germany | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 13 | 2–0 | |||||
| 14 | 31 May 1964 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana | Tunisia | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1964 Summer Olympics Qualifiers |
| 15 | 18 October 1964 | Omiya Park Soccer Stadium, Omiya, Japan |  United Arab Republic | 1–5 | 1964 Summer Olympics | |
| 16 | 12 January 1968 | Cicero Stadium, Asmara, Ethiopia |  Senegal | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1968 African Cup of Nations |
| 17 | 14 January 1968 | Cicero Stadium, Asmara, Ethiopia |  Congo-Kinshasa | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1968 African Cup of Nations |
| 18 | 16 January 1968 | Cicero Stadium, Asmara, Ethiopia |  Congo-Brazzaville | 3–1 | 1968 African Cup of Nations | |
| 19 | 19 January 1968 | Cicero Stadium, Asmara, Ethiopia |  Ivory Coast | 4–3 | 1968 African Cup of Nations | |
| 20 |