Condolences pour in as Ghana football star, Christian Atsu, found dead after Turkiye earthquake

Ghana footballer Christian Atsu has been found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey after last week’s destructive earthquake that killed over 42,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

The African footballer who is playing in Turkey had been missing since the Feb. 6 earthquake following the collapse of an apartment building in Hatay.

Ghana’s foreign ministry confirmed in a statement that it received the “unfortunate news” and that “necessary arrangements with the assistance of the Government of Turkey” were being made to transport the footballer’s body to his home country.

There’s been an outpouring of condolences following confirmation of Christian Atsu’s death. His former clubs paid special tributes to the late Ghana star.

Chelsea put a video tribute to Atsu up on the big screen at Stamford Bridge before their one-nil loss of Saturday’s Premier League game against Southampton, where supporters observed a minute’s applause for the ex-Blues wideman.

President Nana Akufo-Addo in his message said Ghana football has lost one of its finest personnel and ambassadors, one who will be difficult to replace.

The late footballer spent eight years in the Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Bournemouth, Everton and Newcastle.

Atsu is survived by wife Marie-Claire Rupio Atsu and their three children.