“It is not easy to find people like Atsu” Ex-Ghana boss Kwesi Appiah reflects on Christian Atsu’s time with the Black Stars and his first national team call-up

Former Black Stars coach James Kwasi Appiah has reflected on Christian Atsu’s first national team call-up during his time with FC Porto in Portugal.

Christian Atsu, who was confirmed dead on Saturday, February 18, 2023 after the Turkey earthquake earned his first national team in 2012 under Coach Kwesi Appiah.

He made his debut for the Ghana national team against Lesotho, and scored a goal in their 7-0 victory during the 2013 AFCON qualifiers.

He became one of the best wingers in Africa and was described as an “excellent prospect” by BBC.

At the 2015 AFCON, Atsu won both Player of the Tournament award, as well as the Goal of the Tournament award for his strike against Guinea after helping Ghana to final, where they lost in a penalty shootout against the Ivory Coast.

Kwasi Appiah in an interview with Asaase FM said, “A friend of mine called me and said there’s a certain player who plays for Porto in Portugal so I watched about four, five games. I took him to the AFCON 2013 and we got to the semifinals. He’s so talented as an individual because he tries to get goals or assists. It is not easy to find people like Atsu because even though I do give out, I must say that what Atsu has done and was doing is extraordinary. He’s one kind of a player that when he’s off the pitch, he’s lovely because when new players are coming into the team, he tries to get close to them.

The former FC Porto and Chelsea player was also named in the Team of the Tournament for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, where Ghana came fourth. He was called up for the 2019 edition in Egypt.

He also played at the 2013 AFCON and the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil.