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Nicolas Pepe scored twice as the Ivory Coast secured a historic place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time with a 2-0 victory over Curacao in their final Group E match at Philadelphia Stadium on Friday.

The result ensured Ivory Coast finished second in Group E and advanced to the Round of 32, where they will face either Norway or France in Dallas. It marks the nation’s first progression beyond the group stage after previous World Cup appearances in 2006, 2010, and 2014 ended without qualification for the knockout rounds.

Ivory Coast made a strong start and took the lead in the seventh minute. Yan Diomande won possession high up the pitch before setting up Pepe, who finished from close range to give his side an early advantage.

Curacao attempted to respond and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Ivory Coast remained in control for much of the contest. Their attacking quality proved decisive again midway through the second half when Ibrahim Sangare delivered a precise pass into Pepe’s path. The forward took the ball in stride and curled a left-footed effort into the top corner in the 64th minute to double the lead.

Despite Curacao’s efforts to get back into the match, clear opportunities were limited as the Ivory Coast defended effectively and saw out the remainder of the game to secure qualification.

Pepe’s opening goal was also a landmark moment, becoming the fastest World Cup goal in the Ivory Coast’s history.

After the match, Pepe praised his teammates and highlighted the significance of the achievement.

“It’s a source of pride and joy. We’ve qualified for the knockout stage, so for the people of Côte d’Ivoire, this is a source of pride,” he said.

Reflecting on his two goals, Pepe added, “On the first one, Yan Diomande did a great job setting me up. The second was a magnificent pass from Ibrahim Sangare, and all I had to do was get my foot on it.”

The forward also stressed the importance of maintaining focus as the tournament progresses.

“It’s an individual honour, but also a team one. It’s one game at a time. We’re going to try to go as far as possible. We have the players and the quality to do it. We’ll need to stay focused, rest up and see who we’ll be playing against.”

While Curacao’s first-ever World Cup campaign came to an end, Ivory Coast moved forward with growing confidence after a memorable victory and a place in the knockout stage for the first time in the country’s World Cup history.