Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has praised the late Christian Atsu, calling him the best teammate he has ever played with.

Atsu, who won the Best Player award at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), sadly lost his life in 2023 after being trapped under rubble during a massive earthquake in Turkey, where he was playing football.

When asked to name the best player he has played alongside, Ayew immediately mentioned Atsu without any doubt.

“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,” he added.

Jordan Ayew has been in excellent form as captain of the Black Stars, guiding Ghana to consecutive victories in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The team delivered an impressive 5-0 win against Chad before securing a 3-0 triumph over Madagascar. Ayew played a key role in both matches, contributing to five goals—scoring once and providing four assists.

With Ghana leading Group I with 15 points, three ahead of second-placed Comoros, Ayew will be determined to keep the team’s winning streak alive.

Before returning to World Cup qualifiers in September against Chad and Mali, the Black Stars will take part in a four-nation tournament in England.