Crime

Senegalese Teen Footballer Cheikh Touré Found Dead in Ghana After Kidnapping

Two foreign nationals have been arrested in Ashanti Region for the kidnapping and murder of 18-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure who was lured with fake football trials.

UPDATE – September 24, 2026: Two suspects have been arrested by the Ashanti Regional Police in connection with this case. 18-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure was killed in Ghana. Fake football scouts lured him there. Police have now arrested two suspects.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested two foreign nationals in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Toure.

The suspects, 32-year-old Nigerien national Salifu Walid and 24-year-old Burkinabe national Aziz Wadrago Mane, were arrested on September 20, 2026, at their hideout in Banpanase, near Mamponteng, in the Ashanti Region.

According to a police statement signed by Superintendent Godwin Ahianyo, the arrests followed sustained intelligence-led investigations by the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit (AARU) and the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID).

How He Was Lured

According to Senegal’s Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Touré, a goalkeeper from Esprit Foot Yeumbeul academy, was deceived by scammers posing as football scouts who promised him professional trials abroad.

Upon arrival in Ghana, he was allegedly kidnapped, and a ransom was demanded from his family. When the family could not meet the demands, the kidnappers took his life. His body was later brought to the Manhyia District Government Hospital on October 16, 2025, and abandoned there by three unidentified men believed to be foreign nationals.

Police Investigation

Preliminary investigations indicate that Walid and Mane are members of a four-man group that operated under the guise of football scouting agents, using online platforms to lure victims into Ghana with promises of football opportunities.

During interrogation, the two suspects allegedly admitted involvement and disclosed their roles. They also named accomplice Noukoubri Arzouma Sylviain alias Prince Pierre, who is currently on the run and believed to have played a central role.

Authorities in Ghana say they are working closely with their Senegalese counterparts, and efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects. The incident has sparked widespread grief, shedding light on the growing menace of football trafficking and fraudulent recruitment schemes targeting young African players.

In a statement, the Senegalese Ministry urged clubs, academies, coaches, and parents to exercise extreme caution regarding unverified offers of trials or transfers abroad.

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