Former Ivory Coast international footballer Aboulaye Traore has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of rape, according to a women’s rights organisation.
Traore, widely known as “Ben Badi”, was part of the Ivory Coast squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations 1992 and remains a well known figure in the country’s football history.
The Ivorian League for Women’s Rights said a court in Bouaké delivered the sentence on Wednesday, describing the ruling as a step forward in addressing sexual and gender based violence.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Traore to pay 15 million CFA francs in damages to the victim and imposed a five year ban from the central region, the group said.
A judicial source confirmed that the conviction relates to an incident in March 2021 involving non consensual sexual relations with a 21 year old woman.
Traore enjoyed a successful playing career before retiring, becoming a fan favourite at ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan. He also had spells in Europe, including with FC Metz and SC Braga.
