Former Ivory Coast international footballer Abdoulaye Traore has been sentenced to three years in prison for rape, according to an Ivorian women's rights organization. Traore, also known as Ben Badi, was a key member of the Ivory Coast team that won the 1992 African Cup of Nations and remains a well-known figure in the country.
Court Ruling
In a statement, the Ivorian League for Women's Rights said a court in Bouaké delivered the sentence, describing it as a significant advance in the fight against impunity for sexual and sexist violence. The group added that, in addition to the prison term, the court ordered the payment of 15 million CFA francs to the victim and imposed a five-year ban on the former player from entering the central region.
Details of the Crime
A judicial source said Traore was found guilty of non-consensual sexual relations with a 21-year-old woman in March 2021. The incident occurred in Bouaké, where Traore had been living after his retirement from professional football.
Football Career
Before retiring, Traore was a prominent player for ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan and also played for European clubs including FC Metz in France and SC Braga in Portugal. He was part of the golden generation of Ivorian footballers who brought glory to the nation in the early 1990s.
The verdict has been welcomed by women's rights activists, who see it as a rare example of justice for victims of sexual violence in the country. The Ivorian League for Women's Rights urged other victims to come forward and report such crimes, emphasizing that the legal system is now taking these cases seriously.
