Senegalese Teen Goalkeeper Murdered in Ghana After Fake Football Deal

An 18-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper, Cheikh Toure has been found dead in Ghana after falling victim to a fake football recruitment scheme.

Toure, a promising talent from the Esprit Foot Yeumbeul Academy in Dakar, was lured by individuals who claimed they could secure him a professional contract. Instead, he was kidnapped and held for ransom.

Sources say the kidnappers demanded a large sum from his family in Senegal.

When the money couldn’t be raised, they killed him. His body was later discovered in Tafo, in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, roughly 250 kilometers from Accra.

It has since been taken to the Ebenezer Morgue for preservation.

The incident has sent shockwaves through Senegal’s football community and beyond, highlighting once again the risks young African players face in pursuit of their dreams abroad.

Senegal’s Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad has confirmed a joint investigation with Ghanaian authorities.

Two officials from Senegal’s embassy are en route to Kumasi to assist with the investigation and the repatriation of Touré’s body.

In a statement, the ministry urged football academies, agents, and families to be vigilant and verify every opportunity before allowing young players to travel.

Cheikh Touré’s death adds to a growing list of young African footballers deceived by trafficking networks posing as scouts and agents.