A tragic story has shaken African football after 18-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure was found dead in Ghana, having fallen victim to a fake football trial scam.
Reports say Toure travelled from Senegal to Kumasi after being contacted by people pretending to be scouts for a professional club. What he believed to be a chance to advance his career turned into a deadly deception.
Upon arrival, Toure was kidnapped by armed men who demanded a ransom his family could not afford. He was later killed by his captors.
Senegal’s Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs confirmed his death, citing “a network involved in fraud and extortion.” His body was discovered at Ebenezer Mortuary in Tafo, Ashanti Region, and embassy officials have been dispatched to assist with investigations and repatriation.
The shocking death of Cheikh Toure highlights the growing dangers of fake agents and bogus trials preying on young African footballers desperate to make it professionally.