President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has remembered late Black Stars winger Christian Atsu, paying tribute to him during the farewell dinner held for the team prior to the departure to Ivory Coast.
The farewell dinner was held at the Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi after the final training session of the team on Tuesday, January 9.
They were hosted at the dinner by President Akufo-Addo, who charged them to end the over 40 years of wait for another African glory.
But before he spoke, the President paid tribute to the member of the 2015 Silver-winning side.
“I am very happy to be here this evening and to join you in this send-off dinner for the national football team, the Black Stars, as they journey to Abidjan, the capital of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, in search for football glory at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“As they go, they and us should not forget the great former colleague Christian Atsu who died tragically in an unfortunate earthquake in Turkey.
“May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the almighty until the last day of the resurrection till we all meet in heaven.”
Coincidentally, Christian Atsu would have been 32 today, Wednesday, January 10, were he still alive.
He died in February, 2023 following a deadly earthquake in the Hatay region of Turkey. He was playing for Hatayspor and had scored his first goal for that club the day before the disaster.
He was buried the following month in Ghana.
Atsu was named Player of the Tournament at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with his goal against Guinea being adjudged the Goal of that tournament.
