Ivory Coast has advanced to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in history after a 2-0 victory against Curacao in Philadelphia. The win marks a significant milestone for the 2024 African champions, who previously failed to escape the group stage in three attempts.
Villarreal forward Nicolas Pepe was the hero for the Elephants, scoring both goals at Lincoln Financial Field. He opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match following a precise setup by RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande. Pepe doubled the lead shortly after the hour mark, capitalizing on a well-placed through ball from Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.
The match was played before a capacity crowd of 68,324, highlighting the tournament’s impact in the United States. While Curacao, the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup, remained competitive with opportunities from Jurien Gaari and Leandro Bacuna, they were unable to overcome the Ivorian attack. Dick Advocaat’s side finishes at the bottom of Group E without a win.
Ivory Coast concludes the group stage with six points, placing them second behind Germany. Their next challenge is a round-of-32 match in Dallas next Tuesday, where they will face either France or Norway.
