NOT AGAIN! Kwesi Appiah rules out signing Sudanese players for Asante Kotoko

Sudan national team head coach, Kwesi Appiah, has declared that he will no longer facilitate the transfer of Sudanese players to Ghana.

His decision follows an incident in October where two Sudanese players, AbdoelKarem Yagoub and Esmat Abdulhamid, reportedly absconded from their team hotel while on an international assignment in the United States.

The players were in Washington, D.C., for a friendly match against DC United but disappeared after seeking permission to exchange money—a request that was declined.

CCTV footage later confirmed that the players had sneaked out of the team’s hotel, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

Reflecting on the situation, Appiah, who also serves as the Head of Sporting Affairs at Asante Kotoko, expressed his frustration. “Because of the two players who ran away, I am not willing to bring any Sudanese players to Ghana,” he said during an interview with Asempa FM.

However, Appiah acknowledged the interest of Sudan national team captain Ramadan Agab in joining Kotoko. “The Sudan captain says he would like to play for Asante Kotoko one day, but at the moment, I am not interested in bringing any Sudanese player to Ghana,” he added.

Yagoub and Abdulhamid were among 12 players signed by Asante Kotoko last summer as part of a squad overhaul that saw over 21 players leave the club.

Appiah’s comments come as Kotoko prepares for a crucial Ghana Premier League Super Clash against Hearts of Oak on Sunday, December 15, at the Baba Yara Stadium.