An 18-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper, Cheick Toure, was killed after traveling to Ghana for what he believed was a trial with a professional football club.
It was later revealed that the offer had come from a scammer.
Upon his arrival in the country, Toure was kidnapped by armed men, and his family was contacted for ransom. According to Senegal’s Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, the family was unable to pay the full ransom, leading to Toure’s death at the hands of his captors.
His body was later delivered to the Manhyia Government Hospital by a man believed to be connected to the kidnappers. The man claimed Toure had died in a car accident, but this was later denied by official authorities.
A ministry spokesperson said,
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the young Senegalese footballer Toure may have fallen victim to a network of fraud and extortion. The competent Ghanaian authorities have been officially notified to conduct a thorough investigation into the exact circumstances of his death.”
Officials also urged the public to remain vigilant and to use only official channels when pursuing football opportunities or similar offers abroad, to prevent such tragedies from happening again.