Kidnapping Linked to Fake European Football Opportunity Sparks Cross-Border Investigation

A disturbing football trial scam has led to the death of a young man in Ghana, with two others still unaccounted for, following a suspected cross-border kidnapping operation.

According to information gathered, a football agency initially contacted Bamba, claiming they were scouting talented players who would eventually be taken to Europe. The proposed trials were said to begin in Ghana, move to Morocco, and end at a so-called “final destination” in Europe.

Convinced the offer was genuine, Bamba traveled to Ghana and later contacted his friend Momo, assuring him the opportunity was legitimate. Trusting Bamba, Momo also made the journey. After arriving in Ghana, Momo encouraged others to join them, including Cheikh, who agreed to travel.

Trouble began on the 10th, when Cheikh’s mother received a call from kidnappers demanding a ransom of 850,000 CFA francs, threatening to kill her son if payment was not made. Distraught, she contacted Bamba and Momo’s families, only to learn that they too had received videos of their sons in captivity with similar ransom demands.

None of the families could afford the full amount. In desperation, Cheikh’s mother negotiated with the kidnappers, explaining she could only raise 650,000 CFA. The kidnappers pushed for 700,000 CFA, but she sent the 650,000 CFA first.

Shortly afterward, the kidnappers realized the ransom videos they had sent were circulating online. Enraged, they responded by sending another video allegedly showing Cheikh’s lifeless body, implying he had been killed. His body was later rushed to a hospital in a city in Ghana, where the kidnappers claimed he had taken his own life — a claim investigators strongly doubt.

Security sources say preliminary investigations suggest the suspects may be from Burkina Faso or Senegal, as voices heard in the videos were speaking Wolof, a language widely spoken in Senegal, parts of Burkina Faso, Mali, and The Gambia.

Authorities say the suspects have been identified and efforts are underway to apprehend them. Investigations are also ongoing to determine whether Bamba and Momo are still alive.

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds a press release circulating online that claims to provide official updates and suggests the possible release of the remaining two victims. Authorities have cautioned the public to treat the document with skepticism until verified through official channels.