Opoku Afriyie

Opoku Afriyie, popularly called Bayie, was a Ghanaian striker best remembered for scoring both goals in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations final, which made Ghana the first country to win the tournament three times.

Club career

He was born on 2 February 1955. He spent most of his career at Asante Kotoko, winning the league in 1980 and 1981 and the FA Cup in 1978, and was the league's top scorer in 1979 and 1981. He finished his playing days at Hearts of Oak. In 1982 he came eighth in France Football's African Footballer of the Year poll, and CAF later named him among 200 nominees for Africa's best player of the past 50 years.

International career

At the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana he finished as top scorer, and his two goals beat Uganda 2-0 in the final. He also played at the 1980 tournament, where Ghana failed to defend the title.

After playing

He became Asante Kotoko's team manager in 2003 and also served as team manager and welfare officer of the Black Stars.

Death

He died on 29 March 2020, aged 65.