Christopher Bonsu Baah opens up on mother's death, sacrifices behind his journey to World Cup

Ghana winger Christopher Bonsu Baah has shared the emotional story of the sacrifices and personal tragedy that shaped his rise to international football, revealing how the death of his mother while he was pursuing his dream in Spain became the defining moment of his career.

Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, the 21-year-old recalled the loneliness and mental challenges he faced after leaving Ghana at a young age in search of a professional contract.

“I would say to my mum, ‘This is difficult for me’,” Ghana winger Christopher Bonsu Baah told The Athletic.

“To be alone without any family at such a young age, it’s hard. Earning a contract is very difficult and you end up thinking a lot. If you are not mentally tough, it will affect you every day.”

The winger credited his late mother for giving him the strength to persevere when life became overwhelming, describing her as the person who believed in his football dream from the very beginning.

“My mum played a big role in helping me,” he stresses. “Some parents want their kids to focus on school but she knew how much I wanted to become a footballer. She would tell me, ‘It’s just a matter of time’.”

However, Bonsu Baah's greatest heartbreak came while he was still trying to establish himself in Spain. He revealed that he learned of his mother's death only after being unable to reach her, leaving him with an agonising decision.

"Suddenly, she was not responding. I wanted to know why and eventually, I found out she’d passed away,” recalls Bonsu Baah, whose mind began swirling, knowing that if he returned to Ghana for the funeral, he would not be able to come back to Spain because of the terms of his papers."

The winger explained that returning to Ghana for the funeral would have jeopardised his future in Europe because of restrictions attached to his residency documents.

“It was the most difficult decision I have ever made,” he says. “I thought about what my mum would say. She would have told me to stay in Spain.”

Determined to honour her sacrifice, the young attacker remained in Spain and continued pursuing his football ambitions.

Today, the profile picture on Bonsu Baah's Instagram account remains a photograph of his late mother, a lasting tribute to the woman he says inspired him to keep going during the darkest period of his life.

“Spain had to count for something," he said, reflecting on the difficult choice that ultimately changed the course of his career.

Bonsu Baah's perseverance has since been rewarded with a place in Ghana's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Although he did not feature in any of the Black Stars' four matches during the tournament, his inclusion marked another significant milestone in a journey defined by resilience, sacrifice and unwavering determination.