Aboulaye Traore, the former Ivory Coast international striker known as Ben Badi, has been sentenced to three years in prison for rape. An Ivorian women's rights group made the announcement, though details of the sentencing remain sparse.
Traore was a celebrated figure in West African football. He won the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast in 1992 and became a striker of note in the region. His popularity in the country had endured for decades after his playing career.
The conviction marks a rare case of a high-profile sports figure facing justice for sexual assault in Ivory Coast. The case drew attention from women's rights advocates who have long pushed for stronger enforcement of rape laws in the country.
It remains unclear whether Traore has appealed the sentence or when he will begin serving his term. The Ivorian League has not yet made an official statement on the matter.
