Christian Atsu Accra, Feb. 6, GNA – Christian Atsu could be named Player of the Tournament with 48 hours to draw the curtain on the 30th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations underway in Equatorial Guinea, following his exploits for the Black Stars.
A highly-placed source told GNA Sports that Atsu, who has been crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice in his five appearances for Ghana at the competition, is miles ahead of his compatriot in the race.
The Everton midfielder who has scored twice for the Black Stars is in the competition with Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure, Yannick Bolassie of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the host’s silky midfielder, Javier Balboa.
Atsu, 23, is playing at his second successive Nations Cup for Ghana following his maiden appearance at the South Africa 2013 edition where Ghana placed fourth.
The swift winger’s second half goal against Guinea at the quarterfinal meeting in Malabo, according to the source is leading the pack for the Goal of the Tournament.
The player who has found the back of the net eight times for the Black Stars in 35 appearances must beat competition from home favourite, Balboa, Most Valuable Player in the quarterfinal match with Tunisia where his stunner qualified the host nation to their first semi-final berth in the tournament.
Of the four, hardworking Bolassie has also won a MVP while Toure’s goal against the Democratic Republic of Congo put him in contention.
Ghana, chasing a fifth Nations Cup glory that spans over three decades will play Ivory Coast in the repeat of the 1992 finals in Senegal, where the Elephants won on penalties, in Bata on Sunday.
Abedi Pele is the last Ghanaian to have won the Player of the Tournament award. He won the award in 1992 despite missing the finals because of card accumulation.
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