By David Kabiyesi with Agency Report
Word filtered in on Sunday evening that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will in the coming days, send a representative to Ghana ahead of Christian Atsu’s burial, iwitnesslive.com can report.
His remains arrived at Katoka international airport at 7:30 pm aboard Turkish Airlines on Sunday with burial arrangements expected in earnest.
Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 44,000 people in both countries.
There were initial reports the former Chelsea and Newcastle player had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false and his body was found on Saturday.
His former manager, Rafa Benitez is also expected in Ghana to pay his last respect to the former Newcastle star
NFF officially commiserated with the Ghana Football Association over Atsu’s demise in the tragic Turkey earthquake. In a letter signed by the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the NFF said it was devastated by the news about one of Ghana’s standout performers on the pitch, and prayed earnestly for God to comfort the family, friends, the GFA, and the entire Ghanaian football family for his demise. “The Nigeria Football Federation, and indeed, the Nigeria Football family has on Saturday, February 18, 2023, received with much sadness news of the death of Black Stars’ player Christian Atsu, who has reportedly been found dead in the rubble of the recent earthquake that ravaged Türkiye. “Our collective grief knows no bounds for a highly dedicated professional who was one of the very best at his craft, a super patriot who served Ghana to the best of his abilities, and a stellar talent of the beautiful game. We remember Atsu as that rare talent who was the overwhelming choice for Player of the Tournament at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea and also won the Goal of the Tournament award.
“His 65 caps and nine goals for the Black Stars make him one of the sterling individuals in Ghana’s international game in the past two decades. His sense of dedication to duty is underscored by his eye-catching 90th-minute goal that won the game for his club, Hatayspor, in a Turkish league game less than 24 hours before the earthquake happened.
“We mourn a true Black Star who gave his all to the game, but we are consoled by the giant footprints he left in the sands of time, and pray that God Almighty will grant him eternal rest, and also grant his family, friends, the GFA and the Ghana Football family the fortitude to bear the loss,” NFF said.