Emmers Faé have insisted they’re focusing on a high spot at this yr’s World Cup after the Ivorian group certified for the knockout phases for the primary time.
Ivory Coast completed second in Group E with a 2-0 win over Curaçao on the Philadelphia Stadium, with Nicolas Pepe scoring the winner within the first and second half.
Pepe took the lead within the seventh minute with an equalizer from the energetic Yann Diomande, earlier than the Villarreal ahead grabbed his second with a aim within the sixty fourth minute.
It’s also the primary time Ivory Coast have received multiple match in a single World Cup competitors, with Group I’s second-placed opponents within the final 32.
If that occurs, they may face Erling Haaland’s Norway or two-time champion France in Arlington, and Fay believes his group might pull off an upset.
“The primary phrase that involves thoughts is pleasure. We knew we might do it, and we knew it might be troublesome. We did it,” Fay mentioned.
“Furthermore, we completed second. We’re completely happy and proud, however we’re wanting additional forward. We can be properly rested for the following match.”
“Ivory Coast deserves this and we will take pleasure in it and we will have fun tonight. They may proceed to help us so we will go so far as attainable.”
Ivory Coast turned the second African group to attain first in all three World Cup group video games, after Nigeria in 1994.
Then Pepe set them up and sealed the victory after the opening hour.
Pepe turned the second Ivorian participant to attain two or extra targets in a World Cup match in 20 years, after Aruna Dindane scored twice in opposition to Serbia in 2006.
At 31 years and 27 days previous, Pepe turned the second-oldest African participant to attain twice in a remaining, after Roger Milla (38 years and 34 days previous) in Colombia vs. Cameroon in 1990.
“It is a supply of pleasure and pleasure,” the ahead added. “It is a supply of pleasure for the Ivorian folks as a result of we’ve got certified for the finals.
“My two targets? It is all because of the group. For the primary aim, Jan (Diomande) did an amazing job getting the ball to me.”
“The second was an amazing move from Ibrahim (Sangare). All I needed to do was step into it. It is an honor for me personally, but in addition for the group. It is one sport at a time.
“We intend to go so far as attainable. We’ve got the gamers and the standard to realize it. We have to keep centered, relaxation and see who we play in opposition to.”
MERCI #ElephantsEnMarche #TousDerriereLesElephants #CDM2026 pic.twitter.com/RWc92tqrs3
— Ivory Coast nationwide soccer group (@equipenatciv) June 25, 2026
Then again, for Curaçao, their first sport on the World Cup resulted in defeat, as they fell one step wanting being the last-placed nation to advance to the finals.
After dropping 7-1 to Germany, they desperately tried to carry Ecuador to a goalless draw, however couldn’t recover from the road.
Curacao had 30 pictures on track in three World Cup matches, probably the most by a group within the group stage of a single event since North Korea (31) in 2010.
Nonetheless, head coach Dick Advocaat, whereas glad together with his group’s efficiency within the competitors, urged them to proceed recruiting Caribbean expertise for future success.
“I have been to such tournaments earlier than, so I knew just about what was going to occur,” he mentioned. “Nonetheless, this group actually went above and past.
“The way in which we performed in opposition to Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast, these are world-class groups and we’ve got to maintain that in thoughts.
“They usually performed with numerous enthusiasm. That was numerous guts. That was actually necessary.”
“And that is one thing we’ve got to attempt to profit from additional enchancment to see if we will discover extra gamers keen to play in Curaçao.”
