Khaberni - A horrific tragedy shocked Senegalese football following the murder of the young goalkeeper Sheikh Toure in Ghana according to a press release issued by the Senegalese Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs last Saturday.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper had left Senegal to try out abroad but fell victim to a scam network, kidnapped by unknown assailants and killed in Kumasi, Ghana.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the consular services indicated that Toure might have been the victim of a scam and extortion network, according to the ministry, and an investigation has been opened to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy.
Network of Fake Player Agents
According to several Senegalese media sources, it is alleged that the goalkeeper who played at the Espery Foot Academy in Yombol, the capital Dakar, fell victim to a network of fake player agents, believing he would trial with a club in Morocco, but ultimately ending up in Ghana after being kidnapped by an armed group.
It is alleged that these individuals demanded a ransom from the player's family, threatening to kill him before carrying out their threats.
Following this tragedy, the Senegalese Ministry of Sports urges clubs, academies, coaches, and parents to be "extremely cautious towards unreliable offers for trials or transfers abroad." It also advises players to handle the matter through official channels.
Preparations are currently underway to repatriate the body back to the homeland, after obtaining all necessary clearances. The ministry expressed in its statement "deep sympathy with the family of the deceased" and affirmed that it is following the case "with the utmost care and priority."
This tragedy also highlights the risks faced by many young African athletes who are lured abroad with false promises, such as alleged professional trials, traveling without companions, and exploitation networks.