The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and PUMA have jointly unveiled the official match ball for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, naming it “POKOU” in honor of Ivorian football legend Laurent Pokou and his exceptional contributions to the sport.
Laurent Pokou, a revered figure in African football, achieved a record that remains unmatched since the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations. His incredible feat of scoring five goals in the 6-1 victory over Ethiopia during the final competition still stands as a testament to his remarkable talent.
The official ball, POKOU, stunningly incorporates the colors of the Cote d’Ivoire flag – white, orange, and green. It also integrates cutting-edge technology to enhance the game’s quality both in Africa and beyond.
Erwan, the son of the late Pokou, presented this iconic match ball to the audience during the Final Draw, his words resonating with emotion and gratitude: “This is an emotional moment for my family. It is a great honor bestowed upon my late father, who dedicated his life to Ivorian football, to have the official match ball for a tournament taking place in none other than Cote d’Ivoire named after him. The family appreciates the efforts by CAF and the Local Organizing Committee (COCAN) to celebrate heroes and heroines to motivate and inspire future generations to follow in their exemplary footsteps.”
Tournament Details and Venue Tributes
The tournament is scheduled to commence on January 13, 2024, and will run until February 11, 2024.
Matches will be held in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro. In tribute to Laurent Pokou’s enduring legacy, one of the match venues in San Pedro has been fittingly named the Laurent Pokou Stadium.
Known as “L’homme d’Asmara,” Pokou is hailed as one of the greatest players in Ivorian football history. His illustrious career saw him become the top scorer in the 1968 and 1970 Africa Cup of Nations.
His 14 goals in the tournament remained a long-standing record until 2008 when Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon surpassed it. Pokou’s influence extended to clubs such as ASEC Mimosas in Ivory Coast, as well as French sides Stade Rennes and Nancy. His legacy endures, even after his passing on November 13, 2016, at the age of 69.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations matchball is named POKOU.
The ball is named after legendary Ivorian forward Laurent Pokou who scored 6 goals in the 1970 AFCON, including five against Ethiopia. He has the second most goals in AFCON history (14) behind Samuel Eto'o who has 18. 🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/Sxy1j4JLro
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 23, 2023
