Former Ivory Coast international Abdoulaye Traoré sentenced to prison for rape
Former Ivory Coast footballer Abdoulaye Traoré has been sentenced to three years in prison for rape. The 1992 Africa Cup of Nations winner was convicted on Thursday for a non-consensual sexual encounter with a 21-year-old woman in March 2021, when he was 54 years old, according to a judicial source cited by AFP. The court in Abidjan also imposed a fine of 15 million CFA francs (approximately 23,000 euros) to be paid to the victim, a ten-year deprivation of his civic rights, and a five-year ban from entering the city of Bouaké.
Traoré, a former striker, enjoyed a significant career primarily in France during the late 1980s and 1990s. He played for FC Metz, SC Toulon, Sète, and Avignon, earning 37 caps for the Ivory Coast national team. He was a key member of the Elephants side that won the nation's first continental title in 1992, coming on as a substitute in the final penalty shootout victory over Ghana.
The Ivorian League for Women's Rights issued a statement welcoming the verdict, calling it "an important step forward in the fight against impunity for sexual and gender-based violence." The case had been closely watched by women's rights groups in the country, who viewed the prosecution of a high-profile former athlete as a significant test of the judicial system.
Following his playing career, Traoré had remained a recognizable figure in Ivorian football circles. This conviction represents a stark fall from grace for a player once celebrated as a national hero. The sentence is immediate, with no reported suspension of the prison term.
The legal proceedings underscore a broader movement within sports to address cases of sexual violence, regardless of the stature of the individuals involved. Football authorities in Ivory Coast have not yet issued a public comment on the conviction of their former international. The ruling concludes a case that has been pending for over three years since the reported incident occurred.
