Christian Atsu's state funeral has taken place in his home country of Ghana after the former Chelsea, Everton and Newcastle star tragically died in the earthquake that hit Turkey last month.
The event was attended by hundreds of mourners all paying their respects in the capital city of Accra, including Ghana's president and the manager of the Ghanaian national team Chris Hughton. Atsu's body was recovered amid the rubble where his apartment building once stood.
Once Atsu, 31, had been identified 12 days after the earthquake initially struck, his body was flown back from Turkey to Ghana and he is now expected to be buried in his home village in the south-eastern region of the country. Some mourners fought back tears as the ex-Hatayspor winger's widow Marie-Claire Rupio read an emotional tribute to her late husband.
"In life I love you darling, in death I'll do the same," Rupio said in her heart-wrenching message. She struggled to get through the rest of the reading without breaking down in tears and soon handed her eulogy speech to Atsu's sister, who carried on and added: "You did not go alone, for part of me went with you. Your smile, your love I see in our children's smiles."
Both players and representatives from Hatayspor, the club Atsu was playing for when he was killed, also travelled to attend the ceremony. It was a similar story from the national team, with Hughton joined by other figures from within the Ghanaian football hierarchy to pay their respects.
Atsu's coffin was flanked by military pallbearers as it was carried down the aisle outside Ghana's State House. It was also draped in Ghana's national flag, which goes some way to explaining how much the former Porto ace meant to his home country throughout his career. Many mourners made the trip to visit his coffin and pay their own respects.
Mustapha Ussif, Ghana's minister for Sport,also spoke, telling those in attendance: "Even at the peak of his career, Astu remained himself and was never overtaken by pride, arrogance or indiscipline. His legacy will remain as an inspiration."
Atsu represented his country 65 times and was an integral part of the squad that reached the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, and he was awarded both goal and player of the tournament.
Tributes had poured in for Atsu following his death, including from the Premier League where he is remembered in particular for his time at Chelsea, Everton and Newcastle.
He joined Chelsea in 2013 but spent much of his time there out on loan with Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and then Newcastle, before making his move to St. James's Park permanent in 2017.
A minutes' silence was observed ahead of Newcastle's clash with Liverpool last month following the news of his tragic passing, with atsu's wife and three children in attendance.
Arsenal star and Atsu's Ghana teammate Thomas Partey also paid an emotional tribute following his goal against Bournemouth earlier this month, taking off his shirt after the match to reveal a message which read: "Rest well, Christian Atsu."
