The Confederation of African Football, CAF has officially released the match ball for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations set to kick off on January 13, 2024, in Ivory Coast, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
The official match ball, POKOU, is named after Ivorian legendary forward Laurent Pokou. Pokou, the all-time leading goal scorer for the Elephants of Ivory Coast netted 71 goals in 83 appearances. In fact, he is the only player to have scored five goals in a AFCON match, which he accomplished in 1970 against Tunisia.
The FIFA-approved ball features simple technological features including a smart panel configuration and will be used at the highest levels of the game.
Pokou features the three main colours of the Cote d’Ivoire flag – white, orange and green. Following the long-term agreement between CAF and Puma announced on the eve of the 2023 AFCON Draws, P.uma will produce the matchballs.
The 34th edition of the biennial competition, will kick off with Ivory Coast hosting Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.