Ghana Soccer Player Atsu's Well-being, Whereabouts Unknown

People inspect the damage as rescuers search for survivors in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 8. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
People inspect the damage as rescuers search for survivors in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 8. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
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Ghana Soccer Player Atsu's Well-being, Whereabouts Unknown

People inspect the damage as rescuers search for survivors in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 8. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
People inspect the damage as rescuers search for survivors in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 8. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Ghana international soccer player Christian Atsu is missing after the earthquake in Türkiye, his club and agent said Thursday, following earlier reports he was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building and taken to a hospital.

Atsu's well-being and whereabouts were unknown. Aydin Toksoz, the deputy head of Hatayspor soccer club, told Türkiye 's state-run Anadolu Agency news service that club sporting director Taner Savut was also missing after the massive earthquake that struck southern Türkiye and Syria and has now killed more than 19,000 people, with that number expected to rise.

The 31-year-old Atsu, who previously played for English clubs Chelsea and Newcastle, signed for Hatayspor late last year. The club is based in the southern city of Antakya, near the epicenter of the earthquake that struck in the early hours of Monday and devastated the region. Atsu and Savut were believed to have been in buildings that collapsed, the club had said.

Nana Sechere, the agent for Atsu, said in messages to The Associated Press that he traveled to Türkiye to try to find Atsu but the player “is yet to be found.”

Hatayspor and the Ghana soccer association announced on Tuesday that Atsu was rescued from a ruined building on Monday night and taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Toksoz said Hatayspor was now "not able to confirm this information.”

"We have not been able to reach Atsu or Taner Savut,” Toksoz told the Anadolu Agency.

Ghana's ambassador to Türkiye said she was also searching for Atsu. Francisca Ahsitey-Odunton told Ghanaian radio she was given a list of 200 hospitals or medical facilities that Atsu could have been sent to if he was rescued and she had also been unable to confirm where the player was.



Mbappe Sends France Past Germany to Claim Nations League Bronze

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Mbappe Sends France Past Germany to Claim Nations League Bronze

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday.

Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad, AFP reported.

Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colors.

Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equalizer, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the half-way line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise.

The French showed their incredible depth, while Mbappe again demonstrated his finishing and pace.

For Germany, who lost two straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann.

In the lead-up to Sunday's encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany "isn't the most important game for us," with a clear focus on next year's World Cup.

Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots.

Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes including bringing striker Niclas Fuellkrug back into the starting XI.

The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty but it was overturned by VAR for diving with. Florian Wirtz hit the post.

Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over the 1.77-meter tall Joshua Kimmich's head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot.

Nagelsmann replaced rookie striker Nick Woltemade with Deniz Undav at half-time. The move seemed to have paid immediate dividends Undavhad the ball in the net, but his effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up by Fuellkrug.

Germany dominated possession and field position, but that left them vulnerable on the break to France's lightning-fast forwards, led by Mbappe.

Marcus Thuram hit the post on 58 minutes. Then Mbappe and substitute Olise, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, combined to seal the match for France.

The French captain pounced on a poor Robin Koch clearance on the half-way line and ran goalwards, squaring for the onrushing Olise to tap home with six minutes remaining.

Later on Sunday, reigning Nations League and Euros champions Spain face Portugal in Munich to decide this year's crown.