Atsu was found dead after going missing after twin earthquakes in Türkiye on Feb. 6
Christian Atsu, a Ghanaian football player who was discovered dead nearly two weeks after the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey on February 6, will be laid to rest in his native Ghana on March 17, according to Atsu’s family spokesman Robert Ann.
Ann stated that the former Atakas Hatayspor and Newcastle United player will be given a state funeral and that his family will mourn him until his burial.
Atsu, 31, was discovered dead last month after going missing after the major twin earthquakes that struck southern Turkey.
On February 19, his body was returned to Ghana.
Atsu joined Hatayspor last year after playing for several European clubs including Everton, Chelsea, and Newcastle United in the English Premier League, as well as Porto in Portugal.
He played for Porto in the 2013 Portuguese championship.
In 60 Ghanaian caps, Atsu also scored 10 goals.
The death toll from the powerful earthquakes in southern Turkey has risen to 48,448, according to Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu on Monday.
On February 6, earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 magnitudes struck 11 provinces: Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa.
The devastating earthquakes have affected over 13.5 million people in Turkey, as well as many others in northern Syria.
