Sporting KC’s Stephen Afrifa getting his proving time

In the 31st minute of Sporting Kansas City’s 3-1 win over Los Angeles Football Club Saturday night at Sporting Park, forward Stephen Afrifa tracked left back Emir Karic’s cross to beyond the far post of LAFC’s goal. A lesser player may have watched the ball fall innocently over the endline for an LAFC goal kick.

But, Afrifa has a lot to prove. Better yet, a lot to show. Afrifa soared above LAFC’s Yevhen Cheberko, sending the ball back across goal and off the opposite post where SKC striker Taylor Calheira nodded home for a two-goal lead.

The goal was the match winner, one that would not have happened without Afrifa’s effort and athleticism. And for a player whose contract with Sporting Kansas City expires at the end of the calendar year, the assist was further momentum.

The previous week at FC Dallas saw the former 8^th overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft score his third goal of the season in a fortunate moment manifested by Afrifa’s defensive pressure. Sometimes it is the small things that get one noticed.

“Stephen has done well, already [last week] in Dallas [too],” said SKC Manager Raphael Wicky speaking at Saturday night’s post-game presser. “Stephen has done [well in] second striker defending, but in possession in certain pockets [as well].”

Opportunities come for those who work, but opportunities within a struggling squad like Sporting Kansas City bring more focus, more chance to stand out.

For the 25-year-old Afrifa, 2024 was supposed to be his breakout season. Four goals and one assist in nine starts and 24 appearances and 790 minutes should have provided a springboard to more playing time in 2025. But Daniel Salloi was still a key winger for Sporting. Striker Dejan Joveljic and winger Shapi Suleymanov had just arrived. One start, nine appearances, and 133 minutes were Afrifa’s 2025 season.

The remaining ten matches of 2026, then, are critical for Afrifa to be either re-signed by Kansas City or for moving onto another club.

Just in time, Sporting is playing a two-striker system. The system allows Afrifa more freedom to roam as a second striker behind Taylor Calheira, more room to find pockets of space where Afrifa’s speed, strength, and slipperiness can come to the fore.

“[Getting time] feels good. I’ve been waiting some time for this, and I’m just trying to show that I belong out there with the guys to help us try to win,” Afrifa stated in the locker room after the win over LAFC.

“I’m in a new role, so still kind of getting used to it. But I kind of like it. I get to be sitting in pockets where I have the space to do what I want to do.”

A winger by experience, Afrifa brings a unique quality to Sporting’s attacking patterns that focus on wing play. As he roamed Saturday night, Afrifa rotated wide to space on the wing a number of times and showed natural awareness of how to get wingers Andre Luiz and Calvin Harris the ball.

“To get into pockets, turn, run at the back line, make the passes, make my runs,” said Harris of his focus within the system.

In the 32^nd minute v LAFC, Afrifa found space and fed newly signed Designated Player Andre Luiz a finely threaded through ball. In the 38th minute, Afrifa popped into space at the top of LA’s box and struck a bolt that forced a fabulous save from French legend Hugo Lloris.

“Just a bit higher,” Afrifa said of his strike, flashing his trademark grin and sparkling eye.

It was a thing of “what could have been.” Just as his through ball to Luiz should have been closer to Luiz’s favored left foot. Just as Afrifa popping out on the wing should have ended with him finding a dangerously positioned Calvin Harris inside LA’s box in the 7^th minute. Just as Afrifa should have overlapped Luiz to attract defenders instead of taking Luiz’s space when the Brazilian could have had open field in the 43^rd minute.

“I just have to keep learning [this new position] and see where it goes.”

“[Stephen] works hard… Right now, he’s in a very good flow…,” Wicky stated.  “I’m happy for every player who who uses his opportunities and who shows, ‘Hey, I’m there, and you can count on me.’”

“We train with the intensity and intention of playing through teams, trying to keep the ball, not being scared, just being showing our personality,” Afrifa revealed.

“Today, we showed exactly that. [LAFC] came to try and press us. We showed composure, worked worked the ball around, waited. We were patient, made the right decisions, and ultimately turned out well for us.”

And Afrifa did the little things like fighting for a ball that he could have just let fly out.

“Anything I can do to help the team. Make my runs, get up, challenge for balls. Yeah, anything I can do.”

A lively and fighting Afrifa is a dangerous Afrifa, leaving  Calheira to be the fox in the box, Capita or Harris to consistently threaten from the left wing, and Luiz to dazzle from the right.

The end product is key, of course. Maybe next time Afrifa’s scorcher finds the net. Hopefully, he finds more teammates with more savvy feeds. But as long as Afrifa complements the other attacking pieces and keeps chances alive, he will keep earning chances to show.