FIFA World Cup 2026: Pepe says his brace is "reward of all hard work" as Ivory Coast make it to Round of 32
Philadelphia, June 26
After his side's historic qualification to the Round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup, Ivory Coast star striker Nicolas Pepe hailed his historic brace as a "reward for his hard work", exclaiming "he has what it takes".
In his side's 2-0 win over Curacao on Thursday which landed Ivory Coast their historic round of 32 qualification, Pepe registered his name in the scoreline twice, becoming the second player from his country to bag a brace on the grandest stage, after Aruna Dindane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
"I know I have got what it takes. This is the reward for all my hard work, and I hope it will continue in the upcoming matches too," Pepe said after the match, according to FIFA.
He also lauded his teammates for their contributions to the goals, notably Yan Diomande and Ibra Sangare.
"My brace was down to the team as well. For the first goal, I just had to tap the ball in after some brilliant work from Yan [Diomande]; for the second, Ibra [Sangare] played a superb ball, and all I had to do was stay focused and score. I would like to dedicate this trophy to the lads," he added.
Coach Emerse Fae hailed Pepe, calling him a "world-class player".
"He is one of the players who needs to help us win matches in these competitions. He has the ability and the experience to do so. Today, he scored two brilliant goals. It is good for the team, and it is good for him too," he said.
Ivory Coast will play their first round of 32 match in Arlington on June 30.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Pepe's humility in crediting his teammates is refreshing. In India, we see too many cricketers taking all the credit. This is how a real team player behaves. Hope Ivory Coast goes far! ⚽🔥
Fantastic achievement! But honestly, I feel Curacao's defense was poor. Pepe is good but let's not get carried away. The real test will be in the round of 32 against stronger teams. Still, happy for African football progress. 🇮🇳
Pepe's journey from Arsenal bench-warmer to World Cup hero is inspiring. Hard work always pays off! 💪 In India, we need more focus on football development instead of just cricket. Maybe one day we'll have our own Pepe celebrating like this!
World Cup always delivers these fairy tale moments. From a struggling player to scoring a brace on the biggest stage - chapeau Pepe! 🇨🇮⚡ Indian football should take notes - invest in grassroots and players will shine on the world stage too.
Yaar, I'm happy for Ivory Coast but where's the love for Diomande and Sangare? Pepe's goals were created by them. Still, what a moment for the country! Jai Africa! 🇮🇳🤝🇨🇮
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