Christian Atsu’s success at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea has been discussed by former Ghana coach Avram Grant.
Prior to the competition, Atsu had been dealing with injuries, and his selection for the team caused some controversy because of the limited playing time he had received at the club level.
Grant mentioned Atsu’s outstanding play at the competition, where he was honoured with the best player and goal of the tournament awards.
After losing on penalties to Ivory Coast, Ghana came in second.
Grant praised Atsu’s mental strength and character, saying, “It’s a story that also shows his character and how strong he is mentally because I received the team very short time before the AFCON after the crisis in the World Cup in 2014 and he was not even on the list because he didn’t play half a year. The first half of the year he didn’t play, he didn’t find a team, partly because of injury.”
Grant had taken notice of Atsu’s talent during his time playing for Chelsea and in the Netherlands. Despite scepticism from others, he decided to include Atsu in the team and worked with Jamie Lawrence, the fitness coach, to prepare him for the tournament.
“So, we put him in a special program with Jamie Lawrence, the fitness coach, to prepare him, and I remember that I had a conversation with him; he said to me if you decide to take me, I don’t care if I play one minute, five minutes, or 10 minutes. I’m a Ghanaian. I’m proud of my team, and after what happened at the World Cup, the supporters don’t believe in us. I want to give my contribution.
Tragically, Atsu passed away in a recent earthquake in Turkey. Plans are currently being made for his funeral.