Ghanaian midfielder Kingsley Sarfo could not travel with his Cypriot side Apoel Nicosia on Thursday, 18th August 2022 for the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League against Djurgården in Swedwn.

This is because the midfielder was convicted of rape in Sweden some five years ago and after his release he was banished from traveling to the country.

Kingsley Sarfo was sacked from Malmö FF in June 2018 after being sentenced to prison for two years and eight months for child rape. 

The punishment was also deportation from Sweden for ten years. 

This means that the midfielderwas left at home in Cyprus as his side were handed a heavy 3-0 defeat in the first leg tie against Djurgården.

Goals from  Victor Kaj Edvardsen, Hjalmar Ekdal and Gustav Wikheim gave the Swede side a comfortable 3-0 win with the second leg to be played next week Thursday with the Ghanaian midfielder expected to feature.

Sarfo, who has played 90 minutes in the last three games for Apoel, had Kim Bergstrand and Thomas Lagerlöf as coaches at Sirius before he went to MFF.

If Djurgården were to make it to the group stage in the Europa Conference League , they will pocket $2.8 million in prize money.

The Cypriot team, which had won the four qualifying matches without conceding a goal, have a tough job overturning the 3-0 defeat.