Lives Streaming: Arrival Of Ghanaian International Late Christian Atsu’s Remains At KIA

The remains of Ghanaian international, Christian Atsu’s dead body  has arrived at the Kotoka International Airport. in Ghana, Sunday, 19th February, 2023.

Christian Atsu was one of thousands that had died in the ghastly earthquake that had rocked Turkey and northern Syria on the dawn of February 6.

The Turkish club confirmed the news mid-morning on Saturday, following earlier submissions to that effect by the player’s two agents.

On Friday, 18th February , 2023, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced arrangements are being put in place to receive the body at the Kotoka International Airport.

“The remains will be accompanied by his family and Ghana’s Ambassador to Turkiye on a Turkish airlines flight and will arrive in Accra at 7:40pm, today, Sunday, 19th February, 2023,” the Ministry’s statement read.

The remains will be received at the Kotoka International Airport by the family, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and the Government upon its arrival from Istanbul, Turkiye, the Ministry added.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family, and we pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Christian Atsu,” the statement concluded.

About the Death

On 6 February 2023, Atsu went missing in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake; he was feared to be among those trapped under the rubble of Hatayspor’s headquarters in Antakya following the quake.  Subsequent reports were conflicted over Atsu’s fate following the quake, with some reports indicating he had been rescued, while others denied these claims. As of 9 February 2023, no definitive information on his condition and whereabouts was available.

On 14 February, Atsu’s agent confirmed two pairs of his shoes had been found, but that Atsu himself had still not been found. On 18 February, confirmation was received by his agent that his body was recovered from the rubble of the building he was residing in. News outlets reported his death at approximately 6am GMT.

LIVESTREAMING: Arrival of Christian Atsu’s remains at KIA

Live updates of arrival of remains of Christian Atsu on #News360.#3NewsGH https://t.co/giRIiBedYp

— #3NewsGH (@3NewsGH) February 19, 2023

Early life

Christian Atsu Twasam born on 10 January 1992 in Ada Foah, Greater Accra Region,  was a Ghanaian professional footballer who last played for Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor and the Ghana national team. He primarily played as a winger, although he was also deployed as an attacking midfielder.

He spent some of his education at the then Feyenoord Football Academy at Gomoa Fetteh, in the Central Region of Ghana which has now been changed to West African Football Academy in Sogakope in the Volta Region of Ghana. He later moved to join Cheetah FC, a club based in Kasoa

Atsu arrived at Porto at the age of 17. On 14 May 2011, he was called up by first-team manager André Villas-Boas for a Primeira Liga match against Marítimo, but he did not leave the bench.

He also spending a season on loan at Rio Ave. In 2013, he was signed by Chelsea for £3.5 million, who subsequently loaned him to Vitesse Arnhem, Everton, AFC Bournemouth, and Málaga. After spending the 2016–17 season on loan at Newcastle United, he completed a permanent transfer to the club in May 2017.

On 17 July 2021, Atsu joined Al-Raed. Limited by injury, he played only eight games in the Saudi Professional League.

On 6 September 2022, Atsu signed for Süper Lig club Hatayspor on an inital one-year contract with the option for a further year.
A full international with over 60 caps since his debut in 2012, Atsu represented Ghana at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He helped the team finish as runners-up at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he also won Player of the Tournament and Goal of the Tournament.

Atsu was a devout Christian who shared Bible verses on social media. He was married to author Marie-Claire Rupio with whom he had two sons and a daughter.