Nicolas Pépé makes history as Ivory Coast beats Curaçao

Nicolas Pépé produced one of the biggest performances of his career on Thursday, scoring twice in Ivory Coast’s 2-0 win over Curaçao to secure second place in Group 5. The 31-year-old winger, now with Villarreal, had not scored a brace for Ivory Coast since 2018, and it was the first time he had ever done so in a competitive match for the national team.

Pépé also became the first Ivory Coast player since Aruna Dindane in 2006 to score two goals in a World Cup match. The article called him a historic asset for the national team, noting that he once became the most expensive African player in football history when he moved from Lille to Arsenal seven years ago for 80 million euros.

The outing marked a form of redemption for Pépé after he was left out of the squad by former coach Emerse Faé shortly before the Africa Cup of Nations in December. Faé said at the time that the decision was tied to issues “related to the pitch and off it,” but the two later repaired their relationship ahead of the World Cup.

Local media described Pépé as a versatile weapon for Ivory Coast, saying he can play as a winger, false nine, deep forward, or central striker, and calling him a key surprise option for the Elephants. The result strengthened Ivory Coast’s position in the group as the 2026 World Cup continued.