What we know so far about missing Asante Kotoko players

Ghana football is in the news again for unfortunate reasons, with Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the center of the latest controversy.

From the denial of visas to key players to traveling with just seven players amid protests from supporters, the Porcupine Warriors’ tour of the United States of America was shrouded in controversy, with the disappearance of two Sudanese players being the highlight of the story so far.

The two players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and Obdoelkarem Yoouef Yagoub, absconded from the team’s camp upon arrival in the US for the game.

Below is the story so far:

Seven Kotoko players depart to the US

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, news emerged that seven players of Asante Kotoko and some officials of the club had travelled to the United States of America ahead of their ceremonial game against DC United.

The decision to travel with just seven players for the game, which was part of the Ghana Week celebration, was due to the American High Commission in Ghana denying most of their players visas.

Owing to that, the name of the game was changed from Asante Kotoko versus DC United to Ghana Select Side versus DC United.

Missing Asante Kotoko players

In the late hours of Friday, October 12, reports emerged that two of the players from Asante Kotoko had absconded from the team’s hotel and could not be found.

The speculations were confirmed by Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Saturday, October 12, 2024, in a statement where the club indicated that the two players were Sudanese.

"Asante Kotoko SC regrets to inform our supporters and the public that two players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and Obdoelkarem Yoouef Yagoub, both Sudanese nationals, are currently missing from the camp," they wrote in a statement released on their website.

"The players left the team’s hotel without permission on Friday, 11th October 2024, and all efforts to contact or locate them have been unsuccessful. The club has officially notified law enforcement authorities in the United States and is cooperating fully to ensure their safe return," they added.

How the players plotted their escape

As the conversation continued on how the two Sudanese players plotted their move, US-based Ghanaian journalist Seidu Adamu alleged that the players packed out of their Kumasi camp and left their baggage with some of the Sudanese players who were in Ghana for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

Inside story of Missing Sudanese players.
When Kotoko got to Accra enroute to USA, the two players left their traveling bags with the Sudan National Team to be taken home, they traveled to the USA with only their Playing kits and few cloths, everything was planned in Kumasi pic.twitter.com/J2tcL60WSw

— Chief Seidu Adamu 🇬🇭 (@Chiefseiduadamu) October 13, 2024

In the second half, Geoffrey Owusu scored a brilliant goal to put Kotoko in the lead.

The goal proved to be the winner as they held on for the victory at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Kotoko arrive home

The Asante Kotoko delegation departed the United States immediately after the game and arrived in Ghana in the early hours of Monday.

EK