The remains of the Ghanaian football player Christian Atsu, killed in the earthquake that hit Turkey, arrived this Sunday (19) in the capital of his country, Accra, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana.
Atsu, 31, is one of the victims of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 44,000 people in both countries.
The footballer’s body was found on Saturday after some preliminary reports indicated he had been safely retrieved.
“The remains will be accompanied by his family and the Ghanaian ambassador to Turkey on a Turkish airline flight and will arrive in Accra at 7:40 pm on Sunday,” the ministry said.
SEE MORE: Ghanaian Christian Atsu, ex-Chelsea, found alive in rubble in Turkey
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡 !
🖤 𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗟! 🇬🇭
𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/NR4DC5DC5k
— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) February 19, 2023
On Saturday, Atsu’s older brother and his twin brother were present at the rescue site where the body was found.
His widow, Marie-Claire Rupio, and their three children attended a tribute to the player ahead of Newcastle’s Premier League game against Liverpool at St James’ Park in London.
Atsu had arrived at the Turkish club Hatayspor in September, based in the province of Hatay (south), close to the epicenter of the violent earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria.
With that shirt he scored 33 goals, the last one on February 5, a few hours before the earthquake.
The president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, praised the athlete, who also played in his team. “Football has lost one of its best ambassadors, one that will be hard to replace,” he said.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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