Stephen Afrifa

Stephen Afrifa

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Afrifa-Kodua
Date of birth	(2001-02-19) February 19, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Sporting Kansas City
Number	30
Youth career
	Rexdale SC
	Woodbridge Strikers
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	FIU Panthers	63	(23)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018	Woodbridge Strikers	2	(0)
2022	One Knoxville SC	13	(8)
2023–	Sporting Kansas City	26	(4)
2023–	→ Sporting Kansas City II (loan)	10	(1)
International career‡
2024–	Canada	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 5, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 10, 2024

Stephen Afrifa-Kodua (born February 19, 2001) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City and the Canada national team.

College career

In 2019, Afrifa began attending Florida International University, where he played for the men's soccer team. ^[1] He made his collegiate debut on August 30, 2019 against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. ^[2] The following day, he scored his first collegiate goal, in a victory over the James Madison Dukes. ^[3] After his junior season in 2021, he was named to the All-Conference USA First Team and the All-Southeast Region First Team. ^{[4] [5]}

Ahead of his senior season in 2022, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches Watch List and the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team. ^{[6] [7]} That season, he was twice named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week. ^{[8] [9]} That season, he led the in goals scored with 10 and added four assists for a total of 24 points, which were all career highs for him. ^{[10] [11]} He helped FIU to win the 2022 American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and was named the AAC Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player and was named to the All-Tournament team. ^{[12] [13]} At the end of the season he was named to the All-AAC First Team, ^[14] All-East Region First Team, ^[15] and the All-America Second Team. ^{[16] [17]} He was also named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the top collegiate player of the season. ^[18] Over his four seasons, he scored 23 goals and added 11 assists in 63 appearances. ^{[19] [20]}

Club career

In 2018, Afrifa played with the Woodbridge Strikers in League1 Ontario, making two appearances. ^[21]

In March 2022, he joined One Knoxville SC in USL League Two. ^[22] He scored 10 goals for the side between the season and the playoffs. ^[23]

In December 2022, he was selected in the first round (eighth overall) in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City. ^{[24] [25]} In April 2023, he signed a professional contract with the club for the 2023 season, with club options from 2024 to 2026. ^{[26] [27]} He made his MLS debut on May 17, in a substitute appearance against Los Angeles FC. ^[28] He also spent some time that season with the second team, Sporting Kansas City II, in MLS Next Pro, scoring his first professional goal on July 2, in a 7-1 victory over Whitecaps FC 2. ^{[29] [30]}

International career

In February 2024, Afrifa was named to the Canadian provisional roster for the 2024 Copa América qualifying play-offs against Trinidad and Tobago. ^[31] In August 2024, he received his first main squad call-up to Canada ahead of friendlies against the United States and Mexico. ^[32] Afrifa made his debut in the first friendly against the USA on September 7, as a late substitute in a 2-1 victory. ^[33]

Personal

Afrifa is of Ghanaian descent. ^[34] He has a twin brother, Simon, who also played soccer with him at FIU. ^[23]

Career statistics

As of match played October 5, 2024 ^[35]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		National cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Woodbridge Strikers	2018 [21]	League1 Ontario	2	0	0	0	—		0	0	2	0
One Knoxville SC	2022	USL League Two	13	8	3	2	—		—		16	10
Sporting Kansas City	2023	Major League Soccer	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	2024		23	4	0	0	3	1	3	1	29	6
	Total		26	4	0	0	4	1	3	1	33	6
Sporting Kansas City II (loan)	2023	MLS Next Pro	8	1	1	0	—		—		9	1
	2024		2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	Total		10	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	11	1
Career total			50	13	4	2	3	1	3	1	60	17

International

As of match played September 10, 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Canada	2024	2	0
Total		2	0

References

1. "Men's Soccer Welcomes Newcomers". FIU Panthers . August 28, 2019.
2. "Panthers Rout Bonnies in Season Opener". FIU Panthers . August 31, 2019.
3. "FIU Downs No. 17 James Madison at Home". FIU Panthers . August 31, 2019.
4. "FIU Men's Soccer Garners 10 All-Conference USA Selections". FIU Panthers . November 9, 2021.
5. "FIU Places Four Panthers on United Soccer Coaches All-Region Teams". FIU Panthers . December 7, 2021.
6. "Afrifa Named to United Soccer Coaches Watch List". FIU Panthers . August 16, 2022.
7. "Three Panthers Earn Preseason All-Conference Honors". FIU Panthers . August 23, 2022.
8. "Afrifa and Harr Named The American Players of the Week". FIU Panthers . September 5, 2022.
9. "September 19, 2023". FIU Panthers .
10. Carmenate, Achilles (December 21, 2023). "Stephen Afrifa Selected Eighth Overall by Sporting Kansas City in MLS SuperDraft". FIU Panthers .
11. "Stephen Afrifa FIU profile". FIU Panthers .
12. Bell, Thad (December 21, 2023). "Sporting Kansas City selects Stephen Afrifa with the eighth pick in the MLS SuperDraft". The Blue Testament.
13. Kovzan, Sam (April 26, 2023). "Sporting KC signs 22-year-old forward Stephen Afrifa". Sporting Kansas City .
14. Carmenate, Achilles (November 9, 2022). "Men's Soccer Places Five on The American's All-Conference Teams". FIU Panthers .
15. Carmenate, Achilles (December 8, 2022). "Afrifa and Scheckermann Named to USC All-East Region Teams". FIU Panthers .
16. Carmenate, Achilles (December 8, 2022). "Stephen Afrifa Named United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America". FIU Panthers .
17. "Ahlander, Afrifa, Fazio Earn All-America Honors". American Athletic Conference . December 9, 2022.
18. Carmenate, Achilles (December 7, 2022). "Stephen Afrifa Named Hermann Trophy Semifinalist". FIU Panthers .
19. Sperry, Daniel (December 21, 2022). "Sporting KC selects Stephen Afrifa from FIU with No. 8 pick in annual MLS SuperDraft". The Kansas City Star .
20. "Canada's Bombito, Afrifa selected in top 10 of MLS SuperDraft". CBC Sports . December 21, 2022.
21. "Stephen Afrifa-Kodua 2018 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario .
22. Morgan-Rumsey, Camruinn (March 8, 2022). "One Knoxville Sporting Club reveals player lineup, including 5 Knoxville natives". WVLT-TV .
23. Venkataraman, Karthik (July 29, 2022). "The brotherly connection for One Knoxville SC". WBIR-TV .
24. Kovzan, Sam (December 21, 2023). "Sporting KC selects forward Stephen Afrifa and defender Chris Rindov in MLS SuperDraft 2023 presented by adidas". Sporting Kansas City .
25. Truong, Wilson (December 21, 2022). "Sporting KC selects forward Stephen Afrifa in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". KSHB-TV .
26. Smith, Chad (April 28, 2023). "Dom Dwyer Not Signing, Afrifa Signs, Open Cup Opponent". KC Soccer Journal.
27. "Sporting Kansas City sign forward Stephen Afrifa". Major League Soccer . April 26, 2023.
28. Kovzan, Sam (May 18, 2023). "Recap: Russell nets equalizer as Sporting extends unbeaten run in 1-1 draw at LAFC". Sporting Kansas City .
29. Belzer, Jared (July 2, 2023). "Recap: Sporting KC II wipes out Whitecaps FC 2 7-1 at Rock Chalk Park". Sporting Kansas City .
30. Becker, Connor (July 3, 2023). "Sporting KC II opens July with 7-1 blowout over Whitecaps FC 2". Lawrence Journal-World .
31. "Concacaf Nations League Play-In preliminary rosters announced". Concacaf.com. February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
32. Kovsan, Sam (August 27, 2024). "Sporting KC forward Stephen Afrifa selected to Canada Men's National Team for September friendlies". Sporting Kansas City .
33. Nightingale, Tom (September 7, 2024). "Canada blow USMNT out the water as Shaffelburg, David give CanMNT emphatic 2-1 win". Canadian Soccer Daily.
34. Villa, Walter (September 21, 2022). "FIU scorer Stephen Afrifa is up to speed as the Panthers' top scoring threat". Miami Herald .
35. Stephen Afrifa at Soccerway

External links

• Stephen Afrifa at Soccerway