A group of five players and three officials from Asante Kotoko Sporting Club has returned to Ghana after participating in the 2024 Capital City Cup in Washington, D.C. The team, however, returned without two of their Sudanese players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and Obdoelkarem Yousef Yagoub, who went missing before the team’s final training session.
The former Ghana Premier League champions were already in the spotlight before the tournament, as a large portion of their squad was denied visas by the U.S. embassy, preventing them from participating in the competition. Despite this setback, a smaller contingent of players and officials made the trip.
According to a statement released by the club, the two Sudanese players disappeared from the team’s hotel in Springfield, Virginia, on Friday, the day before their final training session. The players were not found when the team was scheduled to depart for Ghana, leading the club to report the incident to Fairfax County Police. The authorities have since launched an investigation into the players’ whereabouts.
Asante Kotoko is now waiting for updates from the police while continuing preparations for their domestic season. The Porcupines will take on Samartex on Sunday in a Ghana Premier League matchweek 7 clash in Obuasi.
