Former La Liga player Raphael Dwamena has died after collapsing during a match.
Dwamena, 28, was playing for Albanian side KF Egnatia against Partizani Tirana on Saturday when he suffered a serious cardiac arrest.
The Ghanaian striker - who played for La Liga outfit Levante between 2018 and 2020 - collapsed in the 23rd minute of the top of the table clash in the Albanian Superliga. The match was abandoned with the score at 1-1.
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Dwamena was treated on the pitch by medics before being rushed to the nearest hospital in Kavaja, but died shortly after arriving having suffered another heart attack en route.
The 28-year-old had a history of heart-related issues. In 2017 it was discovered that he had a heart defect, while after collapsing during an Austrian Cup match in 2021 he was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
Following Dwamena's sudden death, other football fixtures in the Albanian top flight this weekend have been postponed.
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After local media broke the news of his death, tributes poured in from Dwamena's former teams.
Spanish side Levante released a statement that read:
"On behalf of #LevanteUD, we would like to express our sincere condolences for the passing of our former player, Raphael Dwamena. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time. His legacy at our club will always endure. RIP."
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Dwamena earned nine caps for Ghana, scoring two goals. The Ghanaian FA released a statement paying tribute to their former player.
"Our thoughts are with the family of Raphael Dwamena at this difficult time," it read.
"Raphael represented Ghana wholeheartedly and paid his dues to the country until his unfortunate passing. We will forever miss him for his dedication to the national course."
Alex Brotherton