Nicolas Pepe Leads Ivory Coast to World Cup Knockout Rounds

The Ivory Coast National Team entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament's youngest squads. However, it was veteran Nicolas Pepe who delivered a historic performance, scoring a brace against Curacao.

This crucial display propelled Ivory Coast into the knockout stages, marking what Pepe described as "one of the best nights of my career. " Born in France, Pepe remained true to his roots, making his debut for Ivory Coast in 2016.