Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has hailed the late Christian Atsu as the best player he has ever played alongside in his career.
Atsu, who was named Player of the Tournament at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), tragically passed away in 2023. The former Chelsea and Newcastle United winger was found under rubble after a devastating earthquake in Turkey, where he was playing club football.
When asked about the most talented player he has shared the pitch with, Ayew chose Atsu over some of Ghana’s biggest football icons.
“The best player I’ve ever played with, unfortunately, is no longer with us, and that’s Christian [Atsu]. I played with Muntari and Essien,” he told Joy Sports.
“Asamoah [Gyan] and Andre [Ayew] are also up there, but I’ll go with Atsu. He didn’t get enough plaudits for how good he was on the field.”
Ayew recently guided Ghana to two crucial victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, securing a dominant 5-0 win over Chad and a 3-0 triumph against Madagascar. The Black Stars captain was instrumental in both games, contributing to five goals—scoring once and providing four assists.
Ghana now leads Group I with 15 points, holding a three-point advantage over second-placed Comoros. Madagascar, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Chad remain in contention behind them.
Ayew will look to maintain his unbeaten run as captain when the Black Stars participate in a four-nation tournament in England before facing Chad and Mali in the Matchday 7 and 8 qualifiers in September.
