Ivory Coast is mourning the loss of one of its football pioneers, Koudou Poll Théodore, who passed away on November 18 at the age of 83 due to a cardiac arrest. Known as “Little Poll” in reference to his stature and alongside goalkeeper Paul Zouzoua, Koudou Poll made significant contributions to Ivorian football.
Joining Africa Sports in 1947 at the age of 16, Koudou Poll quickly made a name for himself with his agility and occasional goal-scoring abilities. He represented the green and red club in the AOF (French West Africa) cup on two occasions. In 1959, he parted ways with Africa Sports following a disagreement with his coach, Gevaudan. Despite this, Koudou Poll remained closely connected to football and transitioned to become a referee.
The Ivorian Football Federation (Fif) acknowledged Koudou Poll’s impact on its official website, noting that “Petit Poll” played a significant role in Ivorian refereeing during the 1970s. As a referee, he officiated in several key matches, including the CAN 1970 (DR Congo-Guinea 2-2), the Morocco-Senegal fixture in the 1982 World Cup qualifiers, and the elimination phases of the CAN tournaments in 1974, 1978, and 1982.
Koudou Poll Théodore’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2013, at the Williamsville cemetery in Ivory Coast. Africa Top Sports extends its condolences to the grieving Ivorian football community.
