Kwame Opoku

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kwame Opoku

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Kwame Opoku

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|5|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kumasi, Ghana

| height =

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Asante Kotoko

| clubnumber = 31

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Nkoranza Warriors

| years1 = –2020 | clubs1 = Nkoranza Warriors | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2020–2021 | clubs2 = Asante Kotoko | caps2 = 16 | goals2 = 7

| years3 = 2021–2023 | clubs3 = USM Alger | caps3 = 34 | goals3 = 5

| years4 = 2022 | clubs4 = → Najran SC (loan) | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2023–2024 | clubs5 = Olympique Khouribga | caps5 = 6 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2024– | clubs6 = Asante Kotoko | caps6 = 1 | goals6 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2021–

| nationalteam1 = Ghana

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 3 June 2022

| ntupdate = 12 June 2021

}}

Kwame Opoku (born 8 May 1999) is a Ghanaian footballer who plays as a forward for Asante Kotoko and the Ghana national team.

Club career

= Asante Kotoko =

Opoku began his career at Division One League side Nkoranza Warriors, before signing for Asante Kotoko.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=Kotoko to announce signing of Nkoranza Warriors goal poacher|url=https://ghanasportsonline.com/2020/02/kotoko-to-announce-signing-of-nkoranza-warriors-goal-poacher/|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Ghana Sports Online|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Bonaventure|first=Kolog Yenwonah|title=BREAKING: Nkoranza Warriors SC release statement on Kwame Opoku {{!}} Ghana Sports Center|url=https://ghanasportscenter.com/2020/02/17/breaking-nkoranza-warriors-sc-release-statement-on-kwame-opoku/|access-date=2021-01-18|language=en-US}} In 2020, Asante Kotoko announced that they had signed him from Nkoranza-based club Nkoranza Warriors on a three-year contract.{{Cite web|title=OFFICIAL: Kotoko sign striker Kwame Opoku from Nkoranza Warriors|url=https://ghanaguardian.com/official-kotoko-sign-striker-kwame-opoku-from-nkoranza-warriors|access-date=2021-01-18|website=The Ghana Guardian News|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-02-17|title=Asante Kotoko complete signing of Kwame Opoku from Nkoranza Warriors|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Asante-Kotoko-complete-signing-of-Kwame-Opoku-from-Nkoranza-Warriors-868759|access-date=2021-01-18|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en}} He scored on his Kotoko debut against Eleven Wonders on 15 November 2020 after coming on playing the full 90 minutes. The match ended in a 1–1 draw with Prince Okraku scoring Wonder's equaliser.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-18|title=Asante Kotoko forward Kwame Opoku delighted to have scored on his debut, assures fans of more goals|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/asante-kotoko-forward-kwame-opoku-delighted-to-have-scored-on-his-debut-assures-fans-of-more-goals|access-date=2021-12-27|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}} On 22 November during his second start of the season, he scored his second goal against Berekum Chelsea, the match also ended in a 1–1 draw after Emmanuel Clottey came on in the second 75th minute to score a 96th minute late equalizer.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-23|title=Kotoko forward Kwame Opoku dedicates goal against Berekum Chelsea to 'birthday boy' Felix Annan|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/kotoko-forward-kwame-opoku-dedicates-goal-against-berekum-chelsea-to-birthday-boy-felix-annan|access-date=2021-12-27|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}

On 11 January 2021, he scored a first half brace to earn Kotoko a win against Liberty professionals at the Accra Sports stadium. The second goal was assisted by Brazilian footballer Fábio Gama.{{Cite web|date=11 January 2021|title=GPL: Kwame Opoku brace earns Kotoko win over Liberty|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/gpl-kwame-opoku-brace-earns-kotoko-win-over-liberty/|access-date=27 December 2021|website=My Joy Online|language=}} On 7 February 2021, Opoku scored Asante Kotoko's second goal via an assist from Emmanuel Gyamfi against then league leaders Karela United to dislodge them and move to the top of the table.{{Cite web|last=Teye|first=Prince Narkortu|date=7 February 2021|title=Asante Kotoko see off Karela United to move top of Ghana Premier League|url=https://www.goal.com/en-om/news/asante-kotoko-see-off-karela-united-to-move-top-of-ghana-premier-/fuf6mgj70v1c10acn4n1b9her/match/9rhi74s4nsnfkprkr4hss8npw|access-date=27 December 2021|website=Goal}} He played his final match against King Faisal on 10 March 2021 after which he signed a contract with USM Alger. At the end of his one-year stint, he played 21 games and scored 8 goals, with 7 of the goals in the Ghana Premier League. At the time of his departure, he was the top goal scorer for the club in the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|last=Cobblah|first=Henry|date=10 March 2021|title=End Of The Road: Kwame Opoku Plays Last Match For Asante Kotoko Against King Faisal|url=https://www.442gh.com/end-of-the-road-kwame-opoku-plays-last-match-for-asante-kotoko-against-king-faisal/|access-date=27 December 2021|website=442 GH}}

= USM Alger =

On 16 March 2021, Opoku signed a four and half years contract with USM Alger for 350,000 euros.{{cite web |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/03/16/usma-opoku-sengagera-pour-quatre-ans-et-demi-199914.php |title=USMA : Opoku s'engagera pour quatre ans et demi |website=DZFoot.com |date=16 March 2021 |accessdate=16 March 2021}} On 8 May 2021, Opoku played his first competitive match in the League Cup in the Algiers Derby and scored a goal in the match that ended in 2–0 victory, which occurred on his 22nd birthday.{{cite web |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/05/09/coupe-de-la-ligue-lusma-domine-le-mca-2-0-le-wat-et-le-ncm-creent-la-surprise-203165.php |title=Coupe de la Ligue : L'USMA domine le MCA, le WAT et le NCM créent la surprise |website=DZFoot.com |date=9 May 2021 |accessdate=11 May 2021}}

After joining them only in the second round of the season, Opoku made an immediate impact and ended his first season in Algeria with 5 goals and 4 assists in 17 matches in all competitions.{{Cite web|title=Algeria: Striker Kwame Opoku scores winner as USM Alger beat Paradou|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/1097276/algeria-striker-kwame-opoku-scores-winer-as-usm.html|access-date=2021-09-14|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}} On 1 February 2023, Opoku joined Moroccan side Olympique Khouribga.{{cite web |title=Kwame Opoku completes move to Olympique Khouribga |date=February 2023 |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Kwame-Opoku-completes-move-to-Olympique-Khouribga-1705937}}

On 11 December 2024, Opoku rejoined the Ghana Premier League, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Kumasi Asante Kotoko as a free agent.{{Cite web |last=Ofei |first=Gabby |date=23 December 2024 |title=Kwame Opoku returns to Asante Kotoko on two-and-a-half-year deal |url=https://citisportsonline.com/2024/12/kwame-opoku-returns-to-asante-kotoko-on-two-and-a-half-year-deal/ |access-date=31 December 2024 |website=Citi Sports Online |language=}} He made his debut on 28 December 2024, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 victory against Bibiani Gold Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium.{{Cite web |last=Adjei-Mintah |first=Yaw |date=28 December 2024 |title=Kotoko 2-0 Gold Stars: Kwame Opoku stars on return [VIDEO] |url=https://citisportsonline.com/2024/12/kotoko-2-0-gold-stars-kwame-opoku-stars-on-return-video/ |access-date=31 December 2024 |website=Citi Sports Online |language=}}

International career

Opoku debuted for the Ghana national team in a 1–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie with South Africa on 25 March 2021.{{cite web | title=Match Report of South Africa vs Ghana - 2021-03-25 - Total Africa Cup of Nations Qualification | website=Global Sports Archive | date=25 Mar 2021 | url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2021-03-25/south-africa-vs-ghana/1784879/ | access-date=27 Mar 2021}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|17 June 2022}} {{Cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/kwame-opoku/682729/ | title = Kwame Opoku | publisher = Soccerway }}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
valign="center"\|Asante Kotoko \|2020–21 \| Ghana Premier League \|16	7	0	0	5three appearances in CAF Champions League, two appearances and one goal in CAF Confederation Cup	1	colspan=2\|—	21	8
rowspan="2" valign="center"\|USM Alger \|2020–21 \|rowspan="2" valign="center"\| Ligue 1 \|16	4	colspan="2" \|—	colspan=2\|—	1All appearances in Algerian League Cup	1	17	5
2021–22 \|18	1	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	18	1
colspan="3"\|Total !34	5	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	1	1	35	6
colspan="3"\|Career total !50	12	0\|\|0	5\|\|1	1	1	56	14