20-year-old football player killed in team bus attack in Ghana

20-year-old Dominic Frimpong in the jersey of Berekum Chelsea. Photo by Berekum Chelsea

The incident occurred on April 12 as the squad was traveling from Samreboi back to Berekum following a 0-1 defeat to Samartex in the Ghana Premier League.

According to a press release from Berekum Chelsea, the team bus was stopped by a group of masked men armed with handguns and assault rifles.

When the driver attempted to reverse the vehicle to escape the ambush, the masked men opened fire. Players and coaching staff were forced to flee the vehicle and seek cover in the bushes along the road.

Frimpong was struck in the head during the gunfire and taken to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries, The Guardian reported.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed the death of the young winger shortly after.

"The incident has sent shockwaves across the entire football fraternity. The GFA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, his teammates, technical staff, management, and all at Berekum Chelsea during this extremely difficult time," the statement wrote.

Frimpong had joined Berekum Chelsea on loan from Aduana in January 2026 and had made an impact in his short tenure, appearing in 13 matches and scoring two goals.

The GFA also pledged to cooperate fully with local authorities to ensure justice is served and promised to implement stricter security protocols for teams traveling across the country for domestic fixtures.

While authorities have launched a formal investigation into the shooting, the suspects remain on the loose.

This incident marks another dark chapter for security in Ghanaian football. In 2023, the Legon Cities team bus was also targeted by attackers following a match against Samartex, though that incident resulted in no casualties.