MIAMI (Dec. 21, 2022) – FIU standout Stephen Afrifa was selected by Sporting Kansas City with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Wednesday night at CITYPARK in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
Afrifa becomes the 13th FIU player ever selected in the MLS SuperDraft, the sixth first-round pick and tied for the second-highest overall selection in program history.
 
The senior forward had a career-best season netting 10 goals and assisting on four others for 24 total points, all career-highs. He logged 1,271 minutes in his 2022 season for the Panthers, netting three braces over 16 starts.
 
Afrifa led the Panthers to one of their most successful seasons in program history - finishing 14-5-1 overall with a 6-2-1 conference record.
 
FIU won The American regular season championship and also captured the league's tournament title in the program's first season in the conference. The Panthers also made the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in program history, earning the No. 10 seed and making a run to the third round.
 
Afrifa's career-best season has earned him multiple awards. He is a two-time American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America, United Soccer Coaches All-East Region, was named The American First Team All-Conference and was named The American Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player and earned a place on the All-Tournament team.
 
In his four-year career at FIU, Afrifa played in 63 matches, accumulated 3,611 minutes of action, scored 23 goals, and assisted on 11 others for a grand total of 57 points.
 
FIU's All-Time MLS Draft Selections
2022 – Stephen Afrifa: First Round (8th overall) Sporting Kansas City
2020 – Andrew Booth: Fourth Round (96th overall) Minnesota United FC
2020 – Nick O'Callaghan: Third Round (57th overall) Orlando City SC
2020 – Daniel Gagliardi: Second Round (32nd overall) Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2019 – Santiago Patino: First Round (3rd overall) Orlando City SC
2018 – Paul Marie: First Round (12th overall) San Jose Earthquakes
2004 – John Pulido: Sixth Round (55th overall) Colorado Rapids
2002 – Daouda Kante: First Round (11th overall) D.C. United
2001 – Daouda Kante: Sixth Round (64th overall) Miami Fusion
2001 – John Carroll: Round Six (65th overall) Colorado Rapids
1998 – Tyrone Marshall: First Round (11th overall) Colorado Rapids
1996 – Jeff Cassar: First Round (8th overall) FC Dallas
1996 – Steve Ralston: Second Round (18th overall) Tampa Bay Mutiny
 
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