• Nicolas Pepe scored twice, leading Ivory Coast to a historic 2-0 victory over Curacao.
• This marks Ivory Coast's first advancement to the World Cup knockout phase.
• Curacao, the smallest nation to qualify for the finals, exits the tournament.
• Ivorian players celebrated their victory with a team photo and dance.
• Ivory Coast will face either France or Norway in the next round on June 30.

Nicolas Pepe’s **double** sealed Ivory Coast’s **first-ever trip** to the World Cup knockout phase with a 2-0 victory over Curacao, completing their run at the Group E finale on Thursday. The West African team finished second in the group with six points, while Curacao became the **eighth team** eliminated from the tournament. This achievement follows a disappointing history for Ivory Coast, who previously finished third in their groups during their three prior World Cup appearances from 2006-2014, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Pepe's goals came at crucial moments in the match; he struck first in the 7th minute after a lapse in Curacao's defensive play, when Yan Diomande assisted him. The second goal followed in the 64th minute, wonderfully set up by Ibrahim Sangare, showcasing the team's attacking prowess. Pepe's performance is particularly noteworthy given his struggles leading up to the tournament, as he had failed to score in his last five World Cup qualifying matches, according to Channel News Asia and Africanews.

Despite Ivory Coast's dominant performance, Curacao had opportunities to score, notably with a close attempt from Leandro Bacuna just before halftime and another shot from Sherel Floranus that narrowly missed. This match may have been the last for their coach, the 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, marking the end of their first World Cup appearance. "We were close to achieving what we aimed for," Bacuna commented after the match, emphasizing their endeavor to make a mark on the tournament, according to Channel News Asia and Africanews.

The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among the Ivorian players, who engaged in a wild post-match celebration. Pepe expressed optimism for the future, stating, “We aren’t setting any limits for ourselves... I think we have huge potential,” as the team prepares for their next match against either France or Norway on June 30. The Ivory Coast supporters extended their warm presence throughout the tournament, further boosting the players' morale, according to Africanews and Al Jazeera.