Kwadwo Opoku

Kwadwo Opoku (born 13 July 2001), commonly known as Mahala, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club CF Montréal.

Kwadwo Opoku
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-07-13) 13 July 2001
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 CF Montréal
Number 90
Youth career
Attram De Visser
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Attram De Visser 64 (29)
2020–2023 Los Angeles FC 60 (9)
2021 → Las Vegas Lights (loan) 1 (0)
2023– CF Montréal 2 (1)
International career
Ghana U17
Ghana U20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 July 2023

Club career

He began his career with Attram De Visser, scoring 29 goals in 64 matches.[1][2]

In October 2020, Opoku signed with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.[3] He made his debut on 12 October against Seattle Sounders FC.[4] He scored his first goal for the club on 16 December 2020, to give his side a 2-1 victory over Mexican club Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals.[5][6] On 12 May 2021, he was loaned to the Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship for a match against Sacramento Republic FC.[7] He scored his first MLS goal on 12 March 2022 against Inter Miami CF.[8] In 2022, he won the MLS double of the MLS Supporters Shield and MLS Cup with the club.[9][10]

In July 2023, Opoku was traded to CF Montréal, in exchange for $1.75 million in General Allocation Money.[11][12] He made his debut on 13 July against the Chicago Fire.[13][14] On 16 July, he scored his first goal for Montreal against Charlotte FC.[15][16] On 24 July 2023, the club extended his contract through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.[17]

International career

Mahala represented Ghana U17 at the 2017 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and also represented the Ghana U20.[18][19]

In June 2023, he was named to the provisional squad for Ghana U23 for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.[20][21] However, his club team Los Angeles FC, chose to not release him for the tournament.[22][23]

Career statistics
As of match played 22 July 2023[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Los Angeles FC 2020 Major League Soccer 3010—21—61
2021 40————40
2022 3473130——408
2023 19200108200284
Total 6094140103007813
Las Vegas Lights (loan) 2021 USL Championship 10————10
CF Montréal 2023 Major League Soccer 210000—1[lower-alpha 1]031
Career total 63104140103108214
  1. Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup

Honours

Los Angeles FC

References
  1. Agyemang, Nana (6 July 2023). "Ghanaian youngster Kwadwo Opoku 'Mahala' 'ready to get started' at new club CF Montreal". Sports World Ghana.
  2. Suburu Lucio, Kanyiri (6 October 2020). "Attram De Visser Soccer Academy Forward Kwadwo 'Mahala' Opoku Joins Los Angeles Football Club". Ghana Football News.
  3. Oludare, Shina (7 October 2020). "Los Angeles FC sign Kwadwo Opoku from Attram De Visser Academy". Goal. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022.
  4. "Kwadwo Opoku marks MLS debut as Los Angeles stroll past Seattle Sounders". Ghana SoccerNet. 12 October 2020.
  5. Delrand, Nii (17 December 2020). "Watch Brilliant strike from Kwadwo Opoku for LAFC against Cruz Azul". Sports World Ghana.
  6. Boehm, Charles (17 December 2020). "Kwadwo Opoku's shining moment goes beyond Concacaf Champions League heroics". Major League Soccer.
  7. "LAFC Loans Seven Players To Las Vegas Lights FC For Upcoming Match Against Sacramento Republic FC". Los Angeles FC. 12 May 2021.
  8. "Ghanaian prodigy Kwadwo Opoku opens goal scoring account for LAFC in MLS". Ghana SoccerNet. 13 March 2022.
  9. Tong, Vinyl (7 November 2022). "Ghanaian duo, Kwadwo Opoku and Latif Blessing win 2022 MLS with LAFC". Sahara Football.
  10. "Exclusive: VfB Stuttgart interested in LAFC winger Kwadwo Opoku". Football Ghana. 9 June 2023.
  11. "CF Montréal acquires forward Kwadwo Opoku". CF Montréal. 5 July 2023.
  12. Bogert, Tom (5 July 2023). "CF Montréal acquires Kwadwo Opoku from LAFC for $1.75 million GAM: Where trade ranks in MLS history". The Athletic.
  13. Delrand, Nii (13 July 2023). "Ghanaian forward Kwadwo Opoku's Montreal debut ends in a defeat at Chicago". Sports World Ghana.
  14. Grigoriadis, Elias (11 July 2023). "Opoku 'feels at home' as CF Montreal looks to rediscover form against Chicago Fire". Times Colonist.
  15. "Kwadwo Opoku thrilled to score debut goal for CF Montreal win win over Charlotte FC". Football Ghana. 16 July 2023.
  16. Delrand, Nii (16 July 2023). "Ghanaian forward Kwadwo Opoku scores first goal for Montreal Impact against Charlotte in MLS". Sports World Ghana.
  17. "Recent acquisition Kwadwo Opoku signs new contract with CF Montréal". Montreal Gazette. 24 July 2023.
  18. "LAFC Signs 19-Year-Old Forward Kwadwo "Mahala" Opoku". Los Angeles FC. 6 October 2020.
  19. Mumuni, Lukman (6 July 2023). "MLS Champion Kwadwo 'Mahala' Opoku Joins CF Montreal From LAFC".
  20. "Los Angeles FC's Kwadwo Opoku included in Black Meteors squad for 2023 U23 AFCON". Football Ghana. 8 June 2023.
  21. Agyemang, Nana (8 June 2023). "USA-based Kwadwo Poku named in Black Meteors' provisional squad for U-23 AFCON". Sports World Ghana.
  22. "U23 AFCON: Los Angeles block Kwadwo Poku from joining Ghana camp". Ghana SoccerNet. 22 June 2023.
  23. "Kwadwo Opoku Mahala to miss U-23 AFCON after LAFC refuse to release him". Sports World Ghana. 22 June 2023.
  24. Kwadwo Opoku at Soccerway
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