About Laurent Pokou
Laurent Pokou, 69, Ivorian footballer (Rennes).
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Full Biography
|Laurent N'Dri Pokou (10 August 1947 – 13 November 2016) was an Ivorian footballer who played as a striker. He notably played for French club Stade Rennais F.C.
International career
Pokou was a member of the Ivory Coast national team, who was twice the highest goalscorer of the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring six goals in the 1968 tournament in Ethiopia and eight in the 1970 edition in Sudan, including five in one match against Ethiopia, which Ivory Coast won 6–1. This performance gave him his nickname L'homme d'Asmara (the man of Asmara). With 14 total goals, he is also the tournament's second highest overall goalscorer, behind Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, who eclipsed Pokou's record in the 2008 ACN tournament.
On 23 October 2023, CAF and PUMA announced the official match ball for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, named "POKOU" in honor of Laurent Pokou. The ball, which features the colors of the Cote d'Ivoire flag and incorporates advanced technology, celebrates Pokou's legacy, including his record-breaking performance in the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations. Laurent Pokou's son, Erwan, presented the ball, expressing the family's honor and gratitude for this tribute to his late father's contributions to Ivorian football.
Post-playing career
After retiring, Pokou briefly worked as a coach at ASEC Mimosas. He later went into the textile business and also worked at the Ivorian Football Federation.
After a long illness, he died on 13 November 2016, aged 69.
Lauren Pokou Stadium
On 8 September 2023, the Laurent Pokou Stadium was officially inaugurated in San-Pédro. This new stadium was named in honor of Laurent Pokou. The inauguration ceremony was led by the Minister of Sport, Claude Paulin Danho, and was attended by the Chinese ambassador, representatives from the construction companies, members of the Laurent Pokou family, the organizing committee of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and other senior officials.
On 9 September 2023, following its inauguration, the Laurent Pokou stadium hosted its first official game. This historic match was part of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification and witnessed the Ivory Coast national football team securing a 1–0 victory against Lesotho. This game was significant as it was the first national team match ever played in San-Pédro.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurent_Pokou
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Laurent Pokou's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Laurent N'Dri Pokou born?
- A.8 September 2023
- B.10 August 1947correct
- C.13 November 2016
- D.23 October 2023
Laurent N'Dri Pokou was born on 10 August 1947.
Source: Biography introduction
2.What position did Laurent N'Dri Pokou play as a footballer?
- A.Strikercorrect
- B.Midfielder
- C.Goalkeeper
- D.Defender
Laurent N'Dri Pokou was an Ivorian footballer who played as a striker.
Source: Biography introduction
3.For which French club did Laurent N'Dri Pokou play?
- A.AS Monaco
- B.Paris Saint-Germain
- C.Olympique de Marseille
- D.Stade Rennais F.C.correct
Laurent N'Dri Pokou notably played for French club Stade Rennais F.C.
Source: Biography introduction
4.How many goals did Laurent N'Dri Pokou score in the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations?
- A.sixcorrect
- B.eight
- C.five
- D.fourteen
Laurent N'Dri Pokou scored six goals in the 1968 tournament in Ethiopia.
Source: International career section
5.What nickname was given to Laurent N'Dri Pokou due to his performance in Asmara?
- A.L'homme d'Asmaracorrect
- B.Le Grand Rennais
- C.The Ivory Striker
- D.The Lion of Abidjan
His performance of five goals in one match against Ethiopia gave him his nickname L'homme d'Asmara.
Source: International career section
6.Who eclipsed Laurent N'Dri Pokou's record as the highest overall goalscorer in the Africa Cup of Nations?
- A.Didier Drogba
- B.Yaya Toure
- C.Salomon Kalou
- D.Samuel Eto'ocorrect
Samuel Eto'o eclipsed Laurent N'Dri Pokou's record in the 2008 ACN tournament.
Source: International career section
7.What was the name of the official match ball for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, named in honor of Laurent N'Dri Pokou?
- A.N'Dri
- B.SAN-PÉDRO
- C.POKOUcorrect
- D.IVORY
The official match ball for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was named POKOU in honor of Laurent N'Dri Pokou.
Source: International career section
8.Who presented the POKOU match ball to honor Laurent N'Dri Pokou?
- A.Claude Paulin Danho
- B.Erwan Pokoucorrect
- C.The Chinese ambassador
- D.A representative of the Ivorian Football Federation
Laurent N'Dri Pokou's son, Erwan, presented the ball.
Source: International career section
9.Which club did Laurent N'Dri Pokou briefly coach after retiring?
- A.ASEC Mimosascorrect
- B.San-Pédro United
- C.Ivory Coast national team
- D.Stade Rennais F.C.
After retiring, Laurent N'Dri Pokou briefly worked as a coach at ASEC Mimosas.
Source: Post-playing career section
10.Besides coaching, what industry did Laurent N'Dri Pokou work in after his football career?
- A.Textile businesscorrect
- B.Real estate
- C.International diplomacy
- D.Agriculture
Laurent N'Dri Pokou later went into the textile business.
Source: Post-playing career section
11.On what date did Laurent N'Dri Pokou pass away?
- A.23 October 2023
- B.8 September 2023
- C.13 November 2016correct
- D.10 August 2016
After a long illness, Laurent N'Dri Pokou died on 13 November 2016.
Source: Post-playing career section
12.In which city is the Laurent Pokou Stadium located?
- A.Asmara
- B.Rennes
- C.Abidjan
- D.San-Pédrocorrect
The Laurent Pokou Stadium was officially inaugurated in San-Pédro.
Source: Lauren Pokou Stadium section
13.Who led the inauguration ceremony of the Laurent Pokou Stadium?
- A.Erwan Pokou
- B.Claude Paulin Danhocorrect
- C.The CAF president
- D.The Chinese ambassador
The inauguration ceremony was led by the Minister of Sport, Claude Paulin Danho.
Source: Lauren Pokou Stadium section
14.On what date was the Laurent Pokou Stadium officially inaugurated?
- A.8 September 2023correct
- B.13 November 2016
- C.23 October 2023
- D.9 September 2023
On 8 September 2023, the Laurent Pokou Stadium was officially inaugurated in San-Pédro.
Source: Lauren Pokou Stadium section
15.Which team did the Ivory Coast national team defeat in the first official game played at the Laurent Pokou Stadium?
- A.Cameroon
- B.France
- C.Ethiopia
- D.Lesothocorrect
The Ivory Coast national football team secured a 1–0 victory against Lesotho at the stadium.
Source: Lauren Pokou Stadium section
16.What is the historical significance of the first official match at the Laurent Pokou Stadium regarding its location?
- A.It was the first international final held there
- B.It was the first match inaugurated by the Chinese ambassador
- C.It was the first time an Ivorian striker scored a hat-trick there
- D.It was the first national team match ever played in San-Pédrocorrect
The match was significant as it was the first national team match ever played in San-Pédro.
Source: Lauren Pokou Stadium section
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