Ghanaian footballer killed in team bus after armed robbery attack
A Ghanian footballer, Dominic Frimpong was shot dead after armed robbers attacked the team bus in Ghana. The incident has raised fresh concerns over player safety during domestic travel.
Berekum Chelsea, a professional football club in Ghana, has been left in shock after winger Dominic Frimpong was shot dead during an armed robbery attack on the team bus, the Ghana Football Association said on Monday.
The incident took place on Sunday along the Goaso Bibiani road as the team was returning from a Ghana Premier League match against Samartex in the town of Samreboi in southern Ghana. The Ghana Premier League is the top tier of football in the West African nation.
According to a statement from the club as reported by Reuters, armed men blocked the road and opened fire on the team bus.
"On our way back to Berekum from Samreboi, our team bus was attacked by a group of armed robbers who blocked the road to prevent our passage," the club said. "Masked men carrying guns and assault rifles started shooting at our bus as the driver attempted to reverse. Players and staff fled into nearby bushes to take cover."
The Ghana Football Association later confirmed that 20 year old Frimpong died in the attack, describing his death as a major loss to football in the country.
"The GFA has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the tragic news of the passing of Dominic Frimpong of Berekum Chelsea Football Club," the association said. "This tragic incident is not only a huge loss to the club but also to Ghana football as a whole. Dominic was a promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game reflected the spirit of the league."
The governing body said it would strengthen security arrangements for teams travelling for domestic competitions in response to the incident.
The attack has raised concerns about the safety of sports teams travelling by road in Ghana. In 2023, another club, Legon Cities, also reported an attack on its team bus after a match at Samartex, although no injuries were recorded.