Nicolas Pepe emerged as the star performer as Ivory Coast finally ended their long-standing World Cup group stage curse with a convincing 2-0 win over Curacao. The former Arsenal winger shone brightly in Philadelphia, ensuring his nation’s historic progression to the last 32. This marks a landmark achievement for the Elephants, who had never previously advanced beyond the initial stage of the competition.
Pepe repays Fae’s trust with a memorable double
Just seven months ago, Pepe was on the fringes of the national setup after being omitted from the Africa Cup of Nations squad. Yet the forward has made a stunning return, transforming himself into Ivory Coast’s key player. He opened the scoring within seven minutes in Philadelphia, capitalising on a defensive lapse to finish calmly after being set up by Yan Diomande. His second goal came in the 65th minute – a trademark left-footed strike that sailed into the top corner. The display justified coach Emerse Fae’s decision to recall him, especially following Pepe’s resurgence in Spain with Villarreal, putting his troubled Arsenal spell firmly behind him.
Ivory Coast end their World Cup struggle
Despite boasting legends such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast had never managed to progress past the group stages in their previous three appearances (2006, 2010, and 2014). This victory represents a turning point for the West African powerhouse, who had often faltered when it mattered most. Finishing second in Group E with six points, the Elephants have finally achieved what their famed Golden Generation could not.
“My message to the fans would be to enjoy this historic qualification, celebrate it,” Fae said after the match. “Once we are done celebrating, please continue sending us positive vibes so we can go as far as we can in this tournament. I am very happy with this result. Not everything was perfect, but keeping a clean sheet helps our morale. Now the team must savour this win. It’s always easier to recover after a victory.”
Team spirit powering the Elephants
Although much of the attention centred on Pepe’s brilliance, Fae was quick to highlight the unity and growing maturity within his squad. The coach noted that despite the immense pressure of the World Cup, the players have maintained a strong bond and positive energy throughout the campaign.
“This group is developing well. It’s their first World Cup, but they are learning quickly – it’s a team that stays united. Even players competing for the same spot are laughing together, always together. We have healthy competition, and that pushes everyone to perform better,” Fae added. Ivory Coast’s clinical finishing made the difference, as Curacao managed only two shots on target despite showing plenty of determination.
Curacao exit with pride
For Curacao, the tournament ends in disappointment, but they depart as one of the most inspiring stories of the expanded 2026 edition. As the smallest nation by population to ever qualify, they proved their worth by earning a draw against Ecuador earlier in the group. Against the Ivorians, they fought bravely, with Juninho Bacuna missing a golden chance to equalise just before half-time. The Blue Wave remained competitive throughout but ultimately could not breach Yassin Fofana’s goal.
“This team has exceeded expectations against world-class opposition,” manager Dick Advocaat remarked. “[Ivory Coast’s] wingers are worth 50 million each… Our main goal was to qualify for the Gold Cup, and once we achieved that, we focused on the World Cup.” Asked if Curacao could qualify again, Advocaat was upbeat: “When you see how we played in the second and third matches, it’s very encouraging.”
As the tournament moves into the round of 32, attention now turns to how far this rejuvenated Ivory Coast team can go. A major test awaits them, with a clash against either Kylian Mbappe’s France or Erling Haaland’s Norway looming. With Pepe in top form and a resolute defence, the Elephants could well prove to be one of the surprise packages of the knockout stage.
