The two players initially wanted to make money transfer to families back home but it turned out that they had other ideas
Two of Asante Kotoko players that travelled to United States for the friendly against DC United have reportedly left their hotel, AshesGyamera.com sources have revealed.
The duo are striker AbdoelKarem AbdoelRahman Yoouef Yagoub and defender Esmat Abdulhamid Mohamed Al Hasan. The Sudanese players initially wanted to go out of the hotel premises with the excuse of sending money to their families back home but the club’s management declined that request.
However, they were nowhere to be found early hours of Saturday as the team were preparing for their training sessions ahead of the game. Further checks from the hotel’s CCTV footages confirmed that players leaving the premises in a car.
The club’s leadership began to search the local area for the players to make sure they are safe and sound.
AshesGyamera understands that with the ongoing political crisis in Sudan, the players are planning to seek for asylum in the United States and that will make them remain in the country legally as immigrants.
BACKGROUND
Asante Kotoko defeated fierce rivals Hearts of Oak 2-1 on July 17, 2024 to lift Ghana’s democracy Cup thanks to a goal each from Justice Blay and Peter Amidu Acquah and a consolation goal from Asamoah Boateng for Hearts. The victory gave Kotoko the opportunity to represent the country in the Ghana Week Celebrations with a game against Major League Scoccer side DC United in a friendly at Audi Field in Washington, DC on October 12.
However, things did not go as planned as only seven first team players of Kotoko including Elvis Kyei Baffour, Emmanuel Antwi, Justice Blay were able to secure visas for the trip. Although, assurances were given that other players will be sorted out soon, that never happened and the seven players who had had visas were already in United States but the game had to be called off.
On Friday, October 11, the organisers of the event agreed to pick a select side for Ghana comprising of players from Kotoko who were already in the country and other youth players from Ghanaian clubs touring United States.
“D.C. United and Ghana Week DC have announced an update to the Capital City Africa Cup scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12. Due to visa challenges for Asante Kotoko, additional players from other Ghana Premier League teams will be rostered for the match and the team will play as the “Ghana Week DC Select Side,” a statement read.
“The Ghana Week DC Select Side will include seven players from the first team of Asante Kotoko, two players from Attram De Visser FC, in addition to other top Ghanaian players based in America.
“The highly anticipated match, headlining DC Ghana Week celebrations, is aimed at promoting Ghanaian tourism, culture, and sports in the DMV area. The week-long initiative underscores the strong ties between Ghana, the U.S., and the African diaspora, fostering cultural exchange and unity,” the statement added.
After the announcement, the two Sudanese players opted to capitalise on the situation and absconded for greener pastures away from football.