The Ivorian Minister of Sports, Danho Paulin, indicated on Friday April 7 that the President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, wished to honor two personalities of the country, in particular the former Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny and the monument of African football Laurent pokou.
Given “their important actions in the development of Côte d’Ivoire, for the promotion and influence of Côte d’Ivoire and especially for the consolidation of peace in Côte d’Ivoire”, their names were given respectively at the Yamoussoukro and San Pedro stadiums.
“I solemnly announce that the Yamoussoukro stadium will be named after Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny. To honor the former glories of football, the President of the Republic decided that the San Pedro stadium will bear the name of Laurent Pokou,” said Minister Danho Paulin.
“The President of the Republic wanted us to give benchmarks and models to the younger generations because of the values carried by these men; for the influence of Côte d’Ivoire and the consolidation of peace”, he continued.
Charles Konan Banny died in September 2021 of pulmonary and respiratory complications linked to Covid-19, in Paris where he had been transferred for treatment.
Laurent Pokou, who marked the history of the CAN by keeping the title of top scorer for a long time, died in November 2016 in Abidjan at the age of 69, following a long illness.
The Charles Konan Banny and Laurent Pokou stadiums will host matches of the 34th African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 which will be organized by Côte d’Ivoire, from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1124 of 10/04/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
