West Ham United striker Michail Antonio recently shared his challenging experience of losing his passport during a visit to Ghana, which caused him to miss Jamaica’s Nations League matches in November. Antonio, who represents Jamaica internationally, was unable to join his teammates in London for their trip to the United States after misplacing his British passport. While he had his Jamaican passport, he couldn’t secure a U.S. visa in time for the games.
Antonio had been in Ghana to visit his football academy in Bompata, Kumasi, where he is developing young talent for opportunities in European leagues. Speaking about the situation, he explained: “I got stuck in Ghana. I had to get an emergency passport to return to the UK, but I couldn’t process a U.S. visa with my Jamaican passport.”
In addition to his efforts on the pitch, Antonio has made a significant investment in Ghanaian football. Inspired by the abundance of talent in the country—like his West Ham teammate Mohammed Kudus—he established the academy to help nurture aspiring footballers and pave their way to the Premier League. “We know the potential here. We’ve seen it with Mo [Kudus]. This academy is about creating opportunities for young players in Ghana,” he shared during his visit.
