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 held in Washington, DC.
The team landed at Kotoka International Airport following a trip marred by controversy when several of their players were denied visas by the US embassy.
Notably, the Kotoko contingent returned without two of their Sudanese players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and Obdoelkarem Yoouef Yagoub, who were reported missing from the team’s hotel in Springfield, Virginia. The duo disappeared on Friday, just before the team's final training session for the Capital City Cup.
A statement from the club confirmed that the two players were not present when the team departed for their return journey to Accra. Asante Kotoko has since reported the incident to the Fairfax County Police, who are now investigating the players' whereabouts. The club expressed concern over the situation and is cooperating fully with local authorities.
The absence of the two Sudanese players adds another layer of difficulty to Kotoko's participation in the tournament, which had already been affected by visa complications for many of its players.