The body of footballer has been flown home as Ghana plan a ‘befitting’ burial for the former Premier League star.
Atsu, 31, was . He had been missing since a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country on February 6.
More than as a result of the earthquake.
Atsu, who had spells at Premier League clubs Newcastle United, Chelsea and Everton, was playing for Turkish side Hatayspor.
Atsu made 65 appearances for Ghana and helped the nation reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2015.
The former winger was flown back to his native country on Sunday and his coffin was carried by members of Ghana’s armed forces.
Speaking at Kotoka airport, Ghana’s Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia said: ‘We hoped against hope, every day that passed, we prayed and prayed. But alas, when he was found, he was no more.
‘Christian was much loved and will be sorely missed. It is a painful loss, a very painful one.’
Mr Bawumia also promised that Atsu would be given a ‘befitting’ burial after his body was accompanied from Turkey by his family and Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey.
Relatives of Atsu met his coffin at Kotoka airport before it was taken to a military hospital morgue ahead of the funeral.
Tributes have poured in for Atsu since his death was confirmed, with .
Atsu spent four years at Chelsea but never featured for the Blues before joining Newcastle in 2017. He made 121 appearances for the Magpies, scoring eight goals.
Meanwhile, the charity Arms Around the Child described their former ambassador Atsu as a ‘unique and wonderful man’ following his tragic death.
‘It is with immense pain and disbelief that we have to write these words,’ they said in a statement. ‘Our deepest condolences are with Christian’s family, wife, children and many friends and lives that he touched.
‘Christian Atsu was a truly unique and wonderful man, and his legacy will live on through the many hundreds if not thousands of lives he has helped. He will live in our memories as one of the kindest, most talented, humble people to enter this world.
‘A young boy from poverty in Ghana who followed his dreams, had an incredibly successful footballing career and used his talent and platform to help others.’
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