The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and German multi-national sportswear manufacturer, PUMA have named the official match ball for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after Ivory Coast legend Laurent Pokou.
CAF announced on Monday that the ball, POKOU, is wrapped in the colours of Ivory Coast flag – White, Orange and Green, and it is built with the latest technology.
Pokou, who died at the age of 69 in November 2016, was the top scorer in the 1968 and 1970 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. I
n addition to his exploits for the country during his playing days, the Ivorian government named a 20,000-capacity stadium in San Pedro as Laurent Pokou Stadium – one of the grounds listed to host games in next year’s tournament.
He also dazzled for Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas before his sojourn to France where he played for Rennes and Nancy.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to kick-off on January 13 with host Ivory Coast taking on Guinea-Bissau for the opening fixture at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, Abidjan.
