According to DW, the 28-year-old, who earned nine caps for Ghana between 2017 and 2018, was carried off the field on a stretcher after collapsing onto the pitch in the 23rd minute of the game.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was later pronounced deceased.
Dwamena’s promising career as a striker faced interruptions due to persistent heart issues. Despite recommendations for early retirement, his passion for the game prevented him from stepping away.
Dwamena’s football journey began at Red Bull Ghana before he moved to Austria to play in Salzburg as a former forward for the Black Stars.
It was at Austria Lustenau and later FC Zürich where he made a name for himself as an exceptional forward, scoring 21 goals in 51 games during the 2017-18 season with the latter.
He had stints with various clubs in Switzerland, Spain, Austria, and Denmark. Before his unexpected passing, Dwamena led the top scorer’s chart in the Austrian Superliga with nine goals.
Despite his promising career as a striker, Dwamena encountered setbacks due to his heart condition.
A potential transfer to the Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion in 2017 fell through after he did not pass a medical examination, which revealed the heart condition.
After undergoing surgery to address the condition, he made a comeback in January 2020 but persisted in playing with a defibrillator until his unfortunate demise.
Despite widespread suggestions for the tall striker to retire due to his persistent heart condition, he remained steadfast in his determination to continue playing as long as he was medically deemed fit to do so.
Levante paid a solemn tribute to Dwamena in the aftermath of the heartbreaking news. The club took to social media platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter), to express a heartfelt homage to their former striker, acknowledging his contributions and cherishing his memory.
“This is how we want to remember you, Rapha. With your eternal smile, enjoying a sport you loved,” the club wrote.
Aside from their post on social media, the club also released a statement which read: “On behalf of Levante, we would like to express our sincere condolences for the death of our former player, Raphael Dwamena,”