Ivory Coast striker Nicolas Pepe scored both goals to beat Curacao 2-0 on Thursday and book a place in the World Cup knockout stage for the Elephants for the first time.
Pepe netted in the seventh and 64th minutes to ensure second place in group E for the Ivorians and condemn tiny Curacao to the bottom spot and elimination from the tournament.
In the last 32, the Ivory Coast will play in Dallas on Tuesday against either France or Norway
Here are the player ratings for the Ivorians against Curacao:
Scenes of celebration for the Elephants 🐘🇨🇮
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 25, 2026
They're through to the knockouts for the first time 🔥#SSFootball | #DStvFIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uzwHHT3o6d
Yahya Fofana (7): A few saves were needed from the goalkeeper, but nothing he could not handle. Curacao’s shooting was notably wayward and off target, although they did have chances.
Guela Doue (7): Back in the starting line-up, Doue was full of forceful running and made several good forays forward down the flank.
Ousmane Diomande (7): There would have been a lot of clubs looking at the performance of the 22-year-old, as he is said to be high on the shopping list of top Premier League teams. He had a stress-free afternoon with no mistakes made.
Odilon Kossounou (6): The only defender retained from the last match, which the Ivorians lost to Germany. His numbers were not as sharp as the rest of the back four.
Christopher Operi (7): Brought in at left back, and while he lost more duels than he won, his work rate going forward added to the attacking dimension of the Ivorian side.
Franck Kessie (8): Got in the way of a goal-scoring chance for Amad Diallo early on, but his late entries into the box were always dangerous, and he was unlucky not to add to the goal he scored in the last game against Germany.
Ibrahim Sangare (8): A brilliant pass set up Pepe’s second goal and made sure of the victory. Proved a strong pillar in front of the back four.
Amad Diallo (5): Coach Emerse Fae said the Ivorians lost too many second balls and therefore he made a change at halftime and took off the Manchester United youngster.
Yan Diomande (8): Easy to see why he is so highly rated and likely to get a big post-World Cup transfer. Set up the opening goal for Pepe with some clever quick thinking.
Ange-Yoan Bonny (5): Very quiet game in the attack for the Inter Milan striker, who had a single touch in the game and was taken off after 67 minutes.
Nicolas Pepe (9): Two goals mean he really has come in from the cold after the Ivorians left him out of the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco earlier in the year.
The Elephants are up and running in Philadelphia 🐘🇨🇮
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 25, 2026
Nicolas Pépé is on the scoresheet 🎯
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Christ Inao Oulai (7): Sharpened up the midfield, adding an extra man to shut down Curacao’s hopes of coming back in the second half.
Ousmane Diakite (7): With so much competition for places upfront for a starting berth, it was no surprise that Diakite was full of running to try and convince the coach.
Elye Wahi (6): Came on for the last 33 minutes but did not make much of an impression with a single shot on goal and one good chance missed.
Bazouma Toure (7): The 20-year-old striker from Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga came closest to adding a third goal in the last 20 minutes fr Curacao.
Jean Michael Seri also came on as a substitute but did not play long enough for a rating.
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