Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by Mike
Stephen Afrifa-Kodua is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward and winger for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer. Born on February 19, 2001, in Toronto, Ontario, Afrifa developed through Canadian youth soccer before starring at Florida International University and being selected eighth overall by Sporting KC in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
Afrifa comes from a family with strong Ghanaian roots and an especially interesting connection to soccer. His twin brother, Simon Afrifa, is also a footballer, and the brothers have spent much of their lives playing the sport together. Public reporting also confirms that they have at least one sister. However, the names of Stephen’s parents and sister have not been reliably disclosed, while he has kept his romantic life almost entirely private.
Who Is Stephen Afrifa’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Stephen Afrifa has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend, fiancée or wife through a reliable source.
Sporting Kansas City’s official player profile, Canada national-team coverage and reports about his college and professional career do not identify a romantic partner. Most of Afrifa’s public interviews focus on soccer, his development as a player and his relationship with his twin brother.
Because Afrifa has chosen to keep this part of his life private, people appearing in social-media photographs or interacting with his accounts should not automatically be described as romantic partners without direct confirmation.
Does Stephen Afrifa Have Children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Stephen Afrifa has children.
Neither Sporting Kansas City nor other established soccer sources identify him as a father. As of now, no son or daughter has been publicly documented.
Who Are Stephen Afrifa’s Parents?
The names of Stephen Afrifa’s parents have not been reliably disclosed in authoritative public sources. However, their Ghanaian background is well documented.
Afrifa was born in Toronto, Canada, but is eligible for Ghana through his parents. This family heritage gave him the possibility of representing either Canada or Ghana internationally before he ultimately made his senior debut for Canada in 2024.
Despite the growing attention around his professional career, Afrifa has not publicly provided detailed biographies of his mother or father, including their names, occupations or specific hometowns in Ghana.
Stephen Afrifa’s Father
Stephen Afrifa’s father has not been publicly identified by name in reliable soccer coverage.
Public reporting confirms that Stephen’s Ghanaian eligibility comes through his family, but there is not enough authoritative information to establish his father’s occupation, birthplace within Ghana or sporting background.
Because Afrifa and Kodua are surnames that can be found among unrelated people, individuals carrying those names should not be presented as Stephen’s father without direct evidence.
Stephen Afrifa’s Mother
The identity of Stephen Afrifa’s mother has likewise remained outside the public spotlight.
She shares in the Ghanaian family background that has shaped Stephen’s dual-national identity, but established profiles do not disclose her name or provide reliable information about her professional life.
Afrifa’s rise from Toronto youth soccer to the Canadian national team has consequently become public without requiring his parents to become public figures themselves.
Who Are Stephen Afrifa’s Siblings?
Stephen Afrifa has a twin brother named Simon Afrifa and at least one sister.
Simon is by far the most publicly documented member of Stephen’s family because he is also a soccer player. The brothers have played together at multiple stages of their careers, including at Florida International University and with One Knoxville SC.
The existence of a sister was publicly confirmed by Simon during their time together in Knoxville, although her name has not been reliably disclosed.
Simon Afrifa
Simon Afrifa-Kodua is Stephen Afrifa’s twin brother. Like Stephen, Simon was born in Toronto and has both Canadian and Ghanaian connections.
Simon is also a footballer who has played primarily as a winger and forward. His career included college soccer before continuing into the semi-professional and professional game.
One of the most interesting parts of Stephen’s family story is how often the twins have shared a soccer field. Stephen explained during their One Knoxville spell that he had been playing alongside Simon for virtually his entire life.
That familiarity created an almost instinctive understanding between the brothers. Stephen said that he naturally understood the types of runs Simon wanted to make and where his brother wanted to receive the ball, while Simon had the same understanding of Stephen’s movements.
Stephen and Simon Afrifa Playing Together
The Afrifa twins attracted particular attention during the 2022 USL League Two season with One Knoxville SC.
Both brothers scored during a 7-1 victory over Southern Soccer Academy in July 2022. Their goals helped One Knoxville clinch the South Central Division championship during the club’s inaugural season.
The family connection became particularly evident after the match. Asked how their relatives would react to seeing the brothers combine successfully, Simon immediately mentioned their sister and said she would be extremely excited and would likely share the moment across Instagram.
Stephen also spoke enthusiastically about playing alongside Simon again. The brothers had spent two years on separate soccer paths before being reunited, making the Knoxville season particularly meaningful for them.
Stephen and Simon Afrifa at Florida International University
The twins were reunited again at Florida International University for the 2022 college season.
Stephen had joined FIU in 2019 and developed into one of the most dangerous attacking players in American college soccer. Simon later joined the Panthers, allowing the brothers to play together at university level.
FIU’s official 2022 roster listed Stephen as a senior forward from Toronto and Simon as a junior forward from the same city.
Stephen enjoyed an outstanding final college season, scoring 10 goals and adding four assists. He was named a United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-American and became a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, one of the most prestigious individual awards in NCAA soccer.
Across his four seasons at FIU, Stephen recorded 23 goals and 11 assists in 63 appearances.
Stephen Afrifa’s Sister
Stephen and Simon Afrifa have at least one sister. Unlike her brothers, she has remained outside the public sports spotlight.
Her existence was directly confirmed by Simon while discussing his family’s reaction to the twins scoring in the same One Knoxville match in July 2022.
Simon described their sister as an enthusiastic supporter who would immediately contact him and celebrate their success on social media.
Her name, age, occupation and other personal details have not been reliably published. There is also insufficient evidence to determine whether Stephen has additional siblings beyond Simon and their publicly mentioned sister.
Stephen Afrifa’s Ghanaian Family Background
Although Stephen was born and raised in Canada, Ghana forms an important part of his family identity.
Public reporting describes Afrifa as Ghanaian-Canadian and confirms that he was eligible to represent Ghana internationally through his parents. His full name, Stephen Afrifa-Kodua, also reflects his Ghanaian heritage.
That dual eligibility became relevant as Afrifa’s performances with Sporting Kansas City began attracting international attention in 2024.
Ultimately, Canada selected him for senior international duty. His decision to accept the call-up connected his professional career with the country in which he was born and developed as a young player.
Growing Up in Toronto
Afrifa grew up in Toronto, one of Canada’s most diverse soccer communities. He attended West Humber Collegiate Institute and played youth soccer with local organizations including Rexdale SC and Woodbridge Strikers.
Stephen and Simon’s shared passion for soccer meant the sport became a major part of their childhood.
By 2018, Stephen was already receiving senior experience with Woodbridge Strikers in League1 Ontario. He subsequently moved to the United States after accepting the opportunity to play NCAA soccer at Florida International University.
The move represented an important step away from his Toronto family environment but ultimately helped establish his pathway to Major League Soccer.
Stephen Afrifa’s College Career
Afrifa joined Florida International University in 2019 and quickly established himself as an important attacking player.
He scored three goals and provided three assists as a freshman before continuing his development during the shortened 2020-21 season.
His breakthrough came as an upperclassman. Afrifa scored eight goals during his junior season and then produced 10 goals as a senior in 2022.
His performances helped FIU reach consecutive NCAA tournaments and win both the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships in 2022.
The opportunity to share part of that final college season with his twin brother made the year particularly significant from a family perspective.
From the Afrifa Twins to the MLS SuperDraft
Stephen’s performances eventually separated his professional path from Simon’s when Major League Soccer clubs began showing serious interest.
Sporting Kansas City selected Stephen with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. He was the club’s highest draft selection in more than a decade.
Afrifa completed his university commitments before signing officially with Sporting Kansas City in April 2023.
He made his MLS debut the following month against Los Angeles FC and gradually began establishing himself within Sporting’s attacking group.
Stephen Afrifa’s Breakthrough With Sporting Kansas City
Afrifa enjoyed his first major breakthrough in 2024. After scoring his first Sporting KC goal in the U.S. Open Cup against FC Tulsa, he scored his first MLS goal against the LA Galaxy in June.
He finished the 2024 campaign with six goals across all competitions, earning significantly more first-team opportunities than during his rookie season.
His performances eventually attracted the attention of Canada head coach Jesse Marsch and opened the door to international soccer.
Stephen Afrifa and the Canada National Team
Canada called Afrifa into its senior squad for the first time in August 2024 ahead of friendly matches against the United States and Mexico.
He made his international debut on September 7, 2024, as a late substitute in Canada’s 2-1 victory over the United States at Children’s Mercy Park—the same stadium where he plays his club soccer for Sporting Kansas City.
Afrifa subsequently earned his second senior appearance against Mexico.
His international debut represented another major development in a family story connecting Ghana and Canada. Although his parents’ Ghanaian heritage gave him another international option, Stephen ultimately began his senior career representing his country of birth.
Simon Afrifa’s Soccer Career
Simon has continued pursuing soccer independently of his twin brother. Public player records identify him as a Canadian-Ghanaian winger who has played in North America and later moved into German football.
By 2026, Simon was listed with SV 1890 Westerhausen in Germany. His positions include right wing, left wing and right-back.
While Stephen has reached Major League Soccer and the Canadian senior national team, Simon’s continued involvement in competitive soccer demonstrates how strongly the sport runs through the Afrifa family.
Stephen Afrifa’s Family Life Today
As of now, the best-documented member of Stephen Afrifa’s immediate family is his twin brother, Simon Afrifa. The brothers grew up playing soccer together, reunited with One Knoxville and FIU, and have openly discussed the special understanding created by sharing the sport throughout their lives.
Stephen and Simon also have at least one sister, although her identity has remained private. The names of their parents have not been reliably disclosed, but public reporting confirms their Ghanaian family roots.
No girlfriend, wife or children have been publicly confirmed for Stephen through reliable sources.
Despite his growing profile in Major League Soccer and with the Canadian national team, Afrifa has therefore managed to keep significant parts of his family and personal life private while his unusual soccer connection with twin brother Simon remains the most visible part of his family story.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stephen Afrifa’s Family
Who are Stephen Afrifa’s parents?
The names of Stephen Afrifa’s parents have not been reliably disclosed publicly. Established reporting confirms that he has Ghanaian family roots and was eligible to represent Ghana through his parents.
Who is Stephen Afrifa’s father?
Stephen Afrifa’s father has not been publicly identified by name through an authoritative source.
Who is Stephen Afrifa’s mother?
The name of Stephen Afrifa’s mother has also remained private in reliable public coverage.
Does Stephen Afrifa have siblings?
Yes. Stephen has a twin brother named Simon Afrifa and at least one sister whose name has not been publicly confirmed.
Who is Stephen Afrifa’s twin brother?
Stephen’s twin brother is Simon Afrifa-Kodua, a soccer player who has played alongside Stephen at both One Knoxville SC and Florida International University.
Are Stephen and Simon Afrifa twins?
Yes. Stephen and Simon Afrifa are twin brothers. Stephen has said that they played soccer together throughout most of their lives.
Does Stephen Afrifa have a sister?
Yes. Simon publicly mentioned their sister when discussing the family’s reaction to the twins scoring for One Knoxville in 2022. Her name has not been reliably published.
Who is Stephen Afrifa’s girlfriend?
As of now, Stephen Afrifa has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend, fiancée or wife through a reliable source.
Does Stephen Afrifa have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Stephen Afrifa has children.
Is Stephen Afrifa Ghanaian?
Afrifa was born in Toronto, Canada, and has Ghanaian family heritage through his parents. He was eligible to represent both countries internationally and ultimately made his senior debut for Canada.
What is Stephen Afrifa’s full name?
His full name is Stephen Afrifa-Kodua.
Where was Stephen Afrifa born?
Stephen Afrifa was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on February 19, 2001.
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
