Christian Atsu Was Just Like Messi - Kwesi Appiah Pays Tribute to Fallen Hero | Soccer/Soccer

Former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah who is saddened by Christian Atsu's death says Ghana has lost a talent who will be hard to be replaced.

To him, Christian Atsu is a lovely person both on and off the pitch after describing him as 'Ghana's Messi'.

Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria, killing more than 46,000 people in both countries.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show, Kwesi Appiah said: “In 2012 when he was very fit. . . people were calling him Messi because of how good he was playing, but then when you get several injuries, it is difficult to play at your best level.”

“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,” he said.

Adding that, “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. 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."