Multiple sporting legends were lost in the year 2020. In Ghana, Africa and abroad, some of the most iconic figures in sports died and as the year winds down, we look at their legacies in individual and team sports.

The Corona Virus Pandemic (Covid-19) forced many sporting events to be cancelled or postponed, including the Olympic Games. However some precious lives were lost in Ghana like:

Opoku Afriyie

Ghana had to go through the pain of passing of two former greats of the Black Stars in a space of 48 hours, and it shocked the entire nation.

Opoku Afriyie passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2020, and hardly had the football community come to terms with the death when it was announced that another legend Kwasi Owusu had died less than 24 hours later.

Afriyie was revered in Ghana for his brace that gave Ghana a historic third African Cup of Nation title in 1978. The former Asante Kotoko forward starred as Ghana beat Uganda 2-0 to lift the title in Accra.

He was also in the Black Stars team that won the 1982 AFCON title, and Ghana's fourth, in Libya.

Nicknamed ‘Bayie’, meaning wizard in his native Akan language, he was the leading marksman of his boyhood club, Asante Kotoko. He was crowned top scorer in the Ghanaian top-flight in 1979 and 1981.

Later in his career, he did the unthinkable at the time as he crossed over to eternal rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak becoming one of the first players to feature for Ghana’s two most successful clubs.

After retirement, he served as Team Manager of Asante Kotoko, and Welfare Officer of the Ghana senior national team, the Black Stars for some time.

Kwasi Owusu

One of the most lethal forwards in the history of Ghana football, Kwasi Owusu, passed away on Monday (30 March 2020) in Sunyani. He was 72.

Nicknamed ‘Powerhouse’, he captained the Black Stars at the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations, as Ghana lost 1-0 to host Sudan in the final, scoring three goals during the tournament.

He is fondly remembered for scoring nine goals in the 15-1 aggregate win over Niger in the qualifiers.

He also featured at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Owusu was Ghana’s top scorer at the international level with 36 goals, a record which was only broken by Asamoah Gyan a few years ago.

At club level, he featured for Tano Bofoakwa, currently in the second-tier of Ghana football, where he remains a legend.

Eight juvenile footballers die in ghastly accident

Ghana football was thrown into a state of mourning and sorrow when the news broke that eight juvenile footballers playing for a team named African Vision FC and based in Offinso had lost their lives in a gory accident on the Kumasi-Offinso road.

The accident occurred on Saturday, September 19, 2020, on the Offinso river when the bus carrying the Juvenile footballers was heading to Offinso from Afrancho after the juvenile footballers had undergone a registration for the District Juvenile League.

The accident happened after the driver lost control of his vehicle which then plunged into the Offinso River causing the death of the aspiring footballers. The lifeless bodies were recovered from the river as people in the nearby towns rushed to the scene to offer their help.

Alfred Kotey

Former bantamweight world titleholder Alfred Kotey died of an undisclosed illness in the Bronx, New York, in June 2020. He was 52.

Kotey, who was born in Bukom, Ghana, on June 3, 1968, represented his country in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and in 1994 became Ghana’s fifth world champion when he won a unanimous decision over Puerto Rico’s Rafael Del Valle to claim the WBO bantamweight world title at London’s famed York Hall.

John Commey

Ghanaian Amateur Star boxer, John Commey, has passed away sadly - The young boxer died on Saturday, August 22, 2020, after complaining of body pains. The 18 year old member of the Black Bombers from Bukom was preparing for an opportunity to feature at the Olympic Games.

Yakubu Moro

One of Ghana’s illustrious football administrators, Yakubu Moro died this year. The Berekum Arsenal owner passed away after suffering a stroke in October 2020. He died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on October 16, 2020  after he had been on admission for about a week. He led Berekum Arsenal to play in the premier league in 2000 and also participated in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2006.

Col. John Sharp

Col. John Sharp was reported dead on Thursday December 3, 2020.

Former GABA President Col. John Sharp was keen sports enthusiast who contributed massively to Ghana Boxing.

He was a member of AIBA, the international amateur boxing association, and also held position as president of the Ghana Kickboxing Association.

He encouraged many boxers in the amateur ranks, especially soldiers. He also tasked the the media to promote sports, especially boxing and kickboxing.

Kobe Bryant

In 26 January, 2020, Bryant died alongside his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles that also took the lives of seven other people. LA Lakers icon Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school.

He was a two-time Olympic gold medallist, helping spark the US squad to titles in 2008 and 2012.

General Seyi Memene

General Seyi Memene, CAF Honorary Vice President was reported dead, in Lomé (Togo), on Friday 20 night to Saturday 21 November 2020, after a long illness.

Former President of the Togolese Football Federation and former CAF First Vice President, General Memene received CAF Golden Order of Merit upon his retirement in 2011, after years of dedication and commitment to African football.

Augustin Sidy Diallo

Ivory Coast FA President Sidy Diallo died of coronavirus

The Ivorian FA boss was confirmed dead on Saturday after contracting coronavirus.

The Confederation of African Football Caf) alongside other football federations across the continent have sent their condolences to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) following the death of its president Sidy Augustin Diallo.

Diallo was confirmed dead on Saturday, two weeks after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Diallo has been a leader in Ivorian football since the early 1990s. He was first elected the vice-president of the FIF from 1991 to 1994, before he won the Ivorian FA presidency in 2011.

During his tenure, he helped Ivory Coast win their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015 amongst other achievements, which include their qualification for the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany.

Papa Diop

Former Senegal, Fulham, and Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop died on November 29, 2020. He was 42.

Diop made 129 appearances in the Premier League and also had spells in England with West Ham United and Birmingham City.

He played for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, scoring the winner in the tournament's opening game as his country beat France 1-0.

Diego Maradona

On November, 25, 2020, Maradona's death brought Argentina to a standstill and caused a wave of grief in his adopted home of Naples. He brought joy to the southern Italian city by leading unfashionable Napoli to two Serie A titles and the 1989 UEFA Cup.

The passing of Maradona, who dragged Argentina to glory at the 1986 World Cup where he scored the 'Goal of the Century' against England - as well as the infamous 'Hand of God' goal, led to three days of national mourning in his home country.

Compiled by Sammy Heywood Okine