Following their trip to Washington for the Capital City Africa Cup, Asante Kotoko has returned to Ghana; however, two Sudanese players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and Obdoelkarem Yoouef Yagoub, are not on the team.
On Friday, October 11th, the two departed the team's hotel without authorization and have not been back in contact.
To secure the players' safe return, the club has informed US law enforcement officials about their absence, which has sparked concerns.
"Asante Kotoko SC regrets to notify our followers and the public that two players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and Obdoelkarem Yoouef Yagoub, both Sudanese nationals, are currently missing from the camp," the club said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Due to difficulties in obtaining visas for their whole team, Kotoko formed the Ghana Week DC Select Side. Five Kotoko players were among the players on this team, who defeated D.C. United 2-1.
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Our football will be doomed if the Black Stars do not qualify for 2025 AFCON Agyemang-Badu, Emmanuel
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, a former midfielder for the Black Stars, has voiced grave concerns about Ghanaian football, saying that if the national side does not make it to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the sport will face major obstacles.
After three qualifying games, four-time African champion Ghana is currently without a win. Following a dismal 1-1 draw with Niger, the team suffered an unexpected 1-0 loss to Angola in Baba Yara.
They are currently third in their group with just two points after failing to score in their most recent match against Sudan, completing the first leg of their doubleheader in a goalless draw at Accra Sports Stadium.
They are currently third in their group with just two points after failing to score in their most recent match against Sudan, completing the first leg of their doubleheader in a goalless draw at Accra Sports Stadium.
Agyemang-Badu, who participated in the 2015 AFCON final, underlined the seriousness of the situation in an interview with Citi Sports.
"Ghanaian football will suffer a setback if we are unable to qualify. Ghanaians used to talk more about how to win the AFCON than how to qualify, but nowadays we are having trouble even getting past the group stages. It's a concerning pattern," he said.
"I hope it doesn't come to that because if it does, it means our football has a terrible future," he continued.
With kickoff set for 13:00 GMT, Ghana will play Sudan in the reverse leg later today at the Martyrs of February Stadium.