Stephen Afrifa
Stephen Afrifa-Kodua is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City and the soccer team|Canada national team].
College career
In 2019, Afrifa began attending Florida International University, where he played for the men's soccer team. He made his collegiate debut on August 30, 2019 against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. The following day, he scored his first collegiate goal, in a victory over the James Madison Dukes. After his junior season in 2021, he was named to the All-Conference USA First Team and the All-Southeast Region First Team.Ahead of his senior season in 2022, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches Watch List and the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team. That season, he was twice named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week. 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. 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. At the end of the season he was named to the All-AAC First Team, All-East Region First Team, and the All-America Second Team. He was also named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the top collegiate player of the season. Over his four seasons, he scored 23 goals and added 11 assists in 63 appearances.
Club career
In 2018, Afrifa played with the Woodbridge Strikers in League1 Ontario, making two appearances.In March 2022, he joined One Knoxville SC in USL League Two. He scored 10 goals for the side between the season and the playoffs.
In December 2022, he was selected in the first round in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City. In April 2023, he signed a professional contract with the club for the 2023 season, with club options from 2024 to 2026. He made his MLS debut on May 17, in a substitute appearance against Los Angeles FC. 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.