Former Ivory Coast striker Laurent N'dri Pokou dead

Laurent Pokou [PHOTO: COURTESY]

Former Ivory Coast striker Laurent N'dri Pokou has died at the age of 69 after a long period of illness.

With 14 goals in two Africa Cups of Nations, he was the tournament's all-time top scorer from 1970 until 2008 when Samuel Eto'o broke his record.

He was twice the highest goal scorer of the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring six goals in the 1968 tournament in Ethiopia and eight in the 1970 edition in Sudan, including 5 in one match against Ethiopia, which Ivory Coast won 6-1.

This performance gave him his nickname L'homme d'Asmara (the man of Asmara). With 14 total goals, he is also the tournament's second highest overall goalscorer, behind Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, who eclipsed Pokou's record in the 2008 ACN tournament.