Laurent N'Dri Pokou (10 August 1947 – 13 November 2016) was an Ivorian footballer who played as a striker.

[2] 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.

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.

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.