Nicolas Pepe inspires Ivory Coast into World Cup knockouts to end Curacao dream
Nicolas Pepe inspires Ivory Coast into World Cup knockouts to end Curacao dream
Sports StaffThu, June 25, 2026 at 10:57 PM UTC
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Nicolas Pepe scored twice as Ivory Coast reached the World Cup knockout stages for the first time thanks to a 2-0 victory which eliminated tournament debutants Curacao.
Arsenal's one-time £72m record signing gave his country a seventh-minute lead in Philadelphia, slotting in from close range following Yan Diomande's cut back from the left.
Forward Pepe, who plays for Spanish side Villarreal, collected a pass from Ibrahim Sangare to double his tally in the 64th minute.
Ivory Coast go through as Group E runners-up and will face either France or Norway in the last 32.
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Ivory Coast are into the World Cup knockouts (Reuters)
Following a 1-0 victory over Ecuador and 2-1 defeat to Germany, the three-time African champions kicked off knowing a draw would be sufficient to progress.
Emerse Fae's side made a dream start, with Diomande capitalising on a defensive error to tee up Pepe to sweep home a first-time finish from inside the six-yard box.
Curacao came into the contest still in contention to reach the second round after securing a landmark first World Cup point by holding Ecuador to a goalless draw on Saturday.
Dick Advocaat's team rarely looked like adding to the goal they managed in their opening 7-1 defeat to Germany and were dealt a knockout blow just after the hour mark when Pepe fired into the left side of the net after being played in by Nottingham Forest midfielder Sangare.
Source: “AOL Sports”
