A Nicolas Pépé brace sends Ivory Coast to the last 16 past Curaçao (0-2)
Nicolas Pépé scored in each half as Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 0-2 to seal their last-16 spot in the Group E finale at the 2026 World Cup.
Ivory Coast claimed a precious 0-2 win over Curaçao at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, a US venue for the 2026 World Cup holding 68,324 spectators, to close the third round of Group E. The Elephants earned a result worth qualification to the last 16 at this 48-team World Cup staged by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The match had a clear protagonist. In the 7th minute, Nicolas Pépé opened the scoring from a Yan Diomande pass to put Emerse Faé's side ahead, set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Franck Kessié and Ibrahim Sangaré in midfield and Amad Diallo and Ange-Yoan Bonny in attack.
The clincher bore his signature again. In the 64th minute, Nicolas Pépé completed his brace after an assist from Ibrahim Sangaré to make it 2-0 and secure the Ivorian ticket. The winger was the undisputed man of the day with his two goals.
Dick Advocaat set up Curaçao in a deep-lying 5-4-1, looking to unsettle their rivals, but their cutting edge fell short. The match produced several bookings: for Ivory Coast, Pépé himself (35') was cautioned, while Curaçao saw yellows for Juninho Bacuna (75') and Gervane Kastaneer (83').
With this win, Ivory Coast close Group E on six points and qualify as runners-up, behind a Germany side leading on goal difference. Curaçao, who made history as the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, bow out of the tournament with one point after a creditable effort at the 2026 World Cup.