Wilberforce Mfum, the Ghanaian football icon known as “The Bulldozer,” passed away at 88 on Sunday, May 11, 2025, after a short illness, AhotorSports has learnt.
The former Asante Kotoko and Black Stars striker made history as the first to score for Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1963, netting two goals in the final against Sudan to secure the Black Stars’ inaugural AFCON title.
The Brong Ahafo native’s international career was stellar, with 20 goals in 26 appearances for Ghana, including representing the nation at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
At the club level, Mfum shone for Asante Kotoko before becoming a trailblazer abroad. In 1968, he joined the Baltimore Bays in the U.S.’s National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).
He later played for Ukrainian SC in the German American Soccer League in 1969 and the Ukrainian Nationals in the American Soccer League (ASL) in 1970, where he co-won the Golden Boot with Juan Paletta. In 1971, he signed with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL), solidifying his status as one of Ghana’s earliest football exports.
