Hafiz Konkoni

Hafiz Wontah Konkoni (born 5 June 1999) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as forward for Ethiopian Ethiopian Premier League side Welwalo Adigrat on loan from Ethiopian Coffee SC. He previously had spells in Northern Cyprus playing for Alsancak Yeşilova and Baf Ülkü Yurdu.

Early life Konkoni is a native of Wa in the Upper West Region of Ghana. He moved to the Northern Region and attended secondary school education in Bole, before later returning to his home region to enroll at Tumu College of Education, previously Tumu Teacher Training College. He is a trained teacher by profession.

Career

Bolga Stars Konkoni started his senior career with lower-tier side Amajande FC in Bole. On 18 March 2023, he scored his first Ghana Premier league goal ever against his future club, Bechem United in the 78th minute at Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium helping Bolga All Stars to a 2–0 victory, the club's first ever Ghana Premier League victory.

Due to combining studies and football and travelling between two Upper West and Upper East regions, he made 8 league appearances and scored 2 goals before joining Bechem United in the May transfer period.

On 2 May, Konkoni scored a late brace in the 86th and 89th minute to complete a comeback to secure a 3–3 draw against Elmina Sharks after Benjamin Tweneboah had also scored a brace for Sharks. In his second season with the club, he scored 8 goals in 12 league ending as the top scorer before the league cancelled due to the dissolution of the Ghana Football Association in June 2018, as a result of the Anas Number 12 Expose.

Alsancak Yesilova In October 2018, Konkoni signed a two-year deal with Northern Cypriot side Merit Alsancak Yeşilova. During his first campaign with the club, he made five appearances scoring one and with four assists as his season was interrupted due to a series of injuries. He was later loaned out to Baf Ülkü Yurdu.

Return to Bechem United Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Konkoni returned to his former club and featured in 14 league matches, scored 2 goals and made 1 assists before the league was truncated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He went on to score a late winner against Inter Allies in a 2–1 away victory in December 2020. His form took nose dive after not scoring six consecutive match days until he scored in a 3–1 victory over Techiman Eleven Wonders. After ending that goal drought, he went on to score five goals in ten league matches between January and May 2021. On 12 May 2021, Konkoni suffered a left arm injury while playing in the Ghana Premier League match against Hearts of Oak, after colliding with Hearts' goalkeeper Richard Attah. The following day, it was confirmed that he fractured left arm and would miss the remainder of the season. Prior to sustaining the injury he had scored 8 goals in 23 league matches. On 18 May 2022, he scored his first goal since returning from injury, an 89th-minute late equaliser after coming off the bench in Bechem's match against Real Tamale United. He struggled to find form after returning from injury, scoring only one goal in 22 league appearances at the end of the 2021–22 season. On the following match day, he equalised in the 93rd minute to secure a 1–1 draw against King Faisal. On 1 February, he scored a hat-trick as Bechem United defeated Real Tamale United by 6–2, his first career hat-trick. On 19 February, match-day 10, he was involved in all three goals, scoring two and assisting one in a 3–0 win over Accra Great Olympics. In April, Konkoni scored four goals in five matches including a brace against Tamale City. His performance earned him the Ghana Premier League Player of the Month for April 2023. He was signed by the club for $100,000 with a 25% sell-on clause of any future transfer fee for Bechem United. Konkoni made his debut at National Stadium on 23 August as a second half substitute, scored the third goal of a 5–0 win over Kinondoni and also provided the assist for Mudathir Yahya to score the fourth goal.

Three days later, he scored his CAF Champions League debut goal against Djibouti Telecom in the second leg of the 2023–24 CAF Champions League first round qualifie r which ended in a 5–1 victory after making his debut in the first leg on 20 August.

International career Based on his 2022–23 league form Konkoni earned his maiden call-up from Chris Hughton to the Ghana national team ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in June 2023. Hughton praised him for his performances in the Ghana Premier League, saying he had enjoyed watching him play.

Personal life Konkoni married his long-time girlfriend in June 2019 at Suuriyiri mosque in the Northern Region. He is a devout Muslim.

Honours Individual

Ghana Premier League Player of the Month: April 2023