The win confirmed Ivory Coast’s place as Group E runners-up and marked a breakthrough in their fourth appearance at the tournament, finally progressing beyond the group stage.
Star forward Nicolas Pépé delivered the decisive performance, scoring twice to secure the result. He opened the scoring in the first half after excellent build-up play from teenage talent Yan Diomande, before adding a second goal midway through the second half to seal victory.
Ivory Coast controlled the contest against a Curaçao side that needed a win to keep their own hopes alive, but ultimately failed to become one of the smallest nations ever to reach the knockout rounds.
At full-time, emotional scenes followed as players dropped to their knees for a team photo and pointed to the sky in celebration of a historic achievement. The squad then continued celebrations in the dressing room, marking what they described as a long-awaited breakthrough.
“We aren’t setting any limits for ourselves,” Pépé said after the match. “I think we have huge potential.”
Ivory Coast’s path to qualification included a 1–0 opening win over Ecuador and a defeat to Germany, but results elsewhere, including Ecuador’s surprise victory over Germany, helped confirm their progression.
The Elephants will now face either France or Norway, depending on who finishes as runners-up in Group I, in their last-16 tie on June 30.
“If we aim to go all the way, it doesn’t matter who we play,” Pépé added, reflecting growing confidence within the squad after their historic qualification.
Meanwhile, another African side, Tunisia national football team, endured a difficult campaign as their World Cup journey came to an end. Tunisia suffered a heavy 3–1 defeat to the Netherlands in their final group match, finishing bottom of Group F after losing all three of their games.
Their tournament was marked by defensive struggles and inconsistency, having conceded 12 goals across the group stage. Despite moments of resilience, including brief spells of competitiveness against stronger opposition, Tunisia were unable to secure a point and bowed out after what their coaching staff described as a disappointing campaign.
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