According to the country’s foreign ministry, the remains of former Ghana international player Christian Atsu, who perished in a terrible earthquake in Turkey, were returned home on Sunday.
On February 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 44,000 people in both countries.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle footballer was reported to have been rescued the day after the earthquake, but this turned out to be incorrect, and his body was discovered on Saturday.
“The remains will be accompanied by his family and Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey on a Turkish airlines flight and will arrive in Accra (Ghana’s capital) at 7:40 p.m. Sunday,” the foreign ministry said.
On Saturday, the ministry said that Christian Atsu’s older brother and twin sister were present at the site of the rescue when his body was recovered.
His widow Marie-Claire Rupio and their three children were in the stands at St James’ Park on Saturday to join in a tribute to the player before Newcastle’s Premier League match against Liverpool.
Christian Atsu scored the last of his 33 career goals for Hatayspor in Turkey’s Super Lig on February 5, hours before the quake struck.
“There are no words to describe our sadness,” tweeted his Turkish top-flight club in homage to him.
“We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person.”
He previously played for his national team the Black Stars and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said “football has lost one of its finest.
