Richard Ofori (goalkeeper)

Richard Ofori (born 1 November 1993) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for Orlando Pirates of the South African Premier Division and the Ghana national football team as a goalkeeper.

This article is about the Ghanaian football goalkeeper. For the Ghanaian football defender, see Richard Ofori (defender). For the Ghanaian goalkeeper of a similar last name, see Eric Ofori Antwi.

Richard Ofori
Personal information
Full name Richard Ofori[1]
Date of birth (1993-11-01) 1 November 1993[1]
Place of birth Accra, Ghana[2]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3][4]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Orlando Pirates
Number 31
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2017 Wa All-Stars
2018–2020 Maritzburg United 85 (0)
2020– Orlando Pirates 35 (0)
International career‡
2013 Ghana U20 4 (0)
2015 Ghana U23
2015– Ghana 24 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:54, 14 April 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:25, 10 December 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Ghana

Ofori spent a number of seasons with Westland FC (a second-division club in Accra) before he joined Wa Allstars of Wa, Ghana. He had continuously been linked with moves to South Africa or Europe after his highly praised performances in the Ghanaian Premier League,[5] and went on trial with Cape Town City in late 2016.[6] He was voted the best goalkeeper in the 2015 season[7] and was instrumental in the All-Stars' clinching of their first-ever title in 2016, again being voted the best goalkeeper.[8]

Maritzburg United

Ofori moved to Premier Soccer League club Maritzburg United on a three-year contract in 2018.

Orlando Pirates

On 20 October 2020, Ofori signed a three-year contract with Orlando Pirates.[9] He played in the Orlando Pirates matches in the MTN 8 tournament. He started in goal in the final match as the Pirates won the trophy and ended their six-year trophy drought.[10] They beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2–1 to win the trophy.[11]

International career

Ofori played at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, making one appearance in the third place match, keeping a clean sheet against Iraq.[12] He later appeared for the Ghana U23, playing at the 2015 African Games.[13]

He was first called up to the senior national team for the 2016 African Nations Championship qualification, where he played both legs against the Ivory Coast. He was later called up by head coach Avram Grant for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.[14] He is the second deputy captain of the Ghana national football team.[15][16]

Career statistics

International
As of matches played 15 July 2019.[3]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ghana 201520
201600
201790
201830
201950
Total190

Honours

Wa All Stars

Orlando Pirates

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: Ghana" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 June 2013. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2013.
  2. "Richard Ofori". Orlando Pirates. Orlando Pirates. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  3. "Richard Ofori". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  4. Richard Ofori at Soccerway
  5. "All Stars goalie Richard Ofori in South Africa for new Club". ghanadailies.com. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  6. "EXCLUSIVE: Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori undergoes trial with SA side Cape Town City". Ghana Soccernet. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  7. "Wa All Stars claim European offers for want-away goalkeeper Richard Ofori". Ghana Soccernet. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  8. "Premier League Awards: Wa All Stars Richard Ofori Wins Best Goalkeeper Award". OC Sport. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  9. "Pirates confirm signing of Ghanaian national goalkeeper Ofori from Maritzburg". TimesLIVE.
  10. "Pirates end six-year trophy drought | eNCA". www.enca.com. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  11. "Champions! Orlando Pirates win MTN 8 title after beating Bloemfontein Celtic". The South African. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  12. "Match Report". FIFA. 13 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  13. "Goalkeeper Ofori attracting foreign offers". Goal. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  14. "Coach Avram Grant names final 23-man squad for AFCON". Ghanaian Football Association. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  15. "Andre Ayew maintains Black Stars captaincy, Partey, Ofori to assist him". Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  16. "Maritzburg goalkeeper Richard Ofori named as Ghana second deputy captain". GhanaSoccernet. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  17. "Wa All Stars Crowned Premier League Champions". Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  18. "All Stars win Super Cup". Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  19. "Chaine the hero as Pirates edge Sundowns to claim MTN8 title". SuperSport. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.


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