Where did he go? The mysterious disappearance of Sambegou Bangou

• He is a former Guinean professional footballer
• He played as a striker for various clubs in his career
• He represented Guinea in the 2004 and 2006 African Nations Cup

Sambegou Bangoura is a Guinean former footballer whose disappearance remains a mystery to many. He played as a striker for various clubs and at the time of his disappearance, he had just finished a tournament at the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations for Stoke City.

Bangoura started playing in Guinea as a youngster and this was where he was spotted by local club scouts who enrolled him in a youth academy where he progressed through the youth ranks. This period likely saw him refine his ability and gain recognition within the region, catching the attention of international scouts.

His talent didn’t go unnoticed and his impressive performance in a Guinean club earned him a move to Qatari outfit Lekhwiya.

At Lekhwiya, his goal-scoring prowess blossomed and this attracted interest from bigger leagues. His success in Qatar paved the way for a move to Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk, marking a significant step up in his career.

In 2006, Bangoura’s career reached new heights with a move to Stoke City in the English Premier League, a transfer that represented a major opportunity for him to showcase his talent. Unfortunately, his time at Stoke City was cut short by his disappearance after the 2006 African Nations Cup, leaving him unrealised potential in the English League.

Early and Personal Life Of Sambegou Bangoura

Sambegou Bangoura was born on April 3 1982 in Conakry, Guinea where he was brought up. Just like other young boys of his age, he started playing street football and soon, his talent was realized by local club scouts who took them to one of the academies.

Sambegou Bangou. Photo/X.com

His impressive performance with the local club earned him a place in a Belgium club Lokeren and then to Standard Liege before he left to play with Stoke City. Soon after, he was part of the squad that was participating in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations where his mysterious disappearance occurred.

Sambegou Bangoura Career

Sambegou started playing in Guinea as a youngster and this was where he was spotted by local club scouts who enrolled him in a youth academy where he progressed through the youth ranks. This period likely saw him refine his ability and gain recognition within the region, catching the attention of international scouts. His talent didn’t go unnoticed and his impressive performance in a Guinean club earned him a move to Qatari outfit Lekhwiya.

At Lekhwiya, his goal-scoring prowess blossomed and this attracted interest from bigger leagues. His success in Qatar paved the way for a move to Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk, marking a significant step up in his career.

In 2006, Bangoura’s career reached new heights with a move to Stoke City in the English Premier League, a transfer that represented a major opportunity for him to showcase his talent. Unfortunately, his time at Stoke City was cut short by his disappearance after the 2006 African Nations Cup, leaving his potential in the English League unrealized.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Sambegou Bangoura

Sambegou was playing for English Premier League club Stoke City when he disappeared in 2006. He had joined the club that year, arriving with high hopes after his success at Qatari club Lekhwiya.

 He played three games for Stoke, showcasing glimpses of his talent, but unfortunately, his time there was cut short by his mysterious disappearance after the Africa Cup of Nations, which marked the end of his professional football career. Since then, he never returned to Stoke City or played for any other club again, which added to the intrigue surrounding his story.

Sambegou Bangou. Photo/Foot224

While Sambegou’s disappearance remains a mystery, speculating on the specific reasons would be venturing into sensitive territory. He cited family problems as a reason for leaving the team hotel in Cairo after the African Nation Cup, a possibility that various personal situations contributed to his disappearance.