Didier Drogba, the Cote d’Ivoire football icon, expressed significant frustration with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following his nation’s departure from the 2026 World Cup. The Ivorian team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Norway during their Round of 32 match this past Tuesday.
Norway took an early lead through Antonio Nusa, though Amad Diallo managed to equalize for the Elephants later in the contest. Ultimately, Erling Haaland secured the victory for Norway with a late goal, eliminating Cote d’Ivoire from the competition.
Following the match, Drogba utilized his X account to voice his dissatisfaction, specifically questioning the failure to award Nicolas Pepe a penalty after a collision inside the box. He characterized the decision as disgraceful and challenged the purpose of the VAR technology. Norway is now set to face Brazil in the tournament’s Round of 16.
