Ivory Coast have reached the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history after defeating Curaçao 2-0 in their final Group E match.
The Elephants finished second in the group with six points, booking a place in the Round of 32 after four World Cup appearances.
Nicolas Pépé was the hero for the West Africans, scoring in each half to secure the historic victory.
His opener came after 19-year-old Yan Diomande capitalized on a Curaçao defensive mistake before setting up Pépé, while the second goal arrived from a well-timed through ball by Ibrahim Sangaré.
Despite their elimination, World Cup debutants Curaçao produced another spirited display and created several chances through Leandro Bacuna and Sherel Floranus, but they were unable to beat the Ivorian defence.
The Caribbean nation exits the tournament with one point after becoming the smallest country ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup finals.
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for Pépé, who had struggled for goals with the national team in recent years and had even missed selection for the last Africa Cup of Nations.
His match-winning brace underlined his resurgence and gave Ivory Coast a memorable milestone on the world stage.
Ivory Coast will now face either France or Norway in the Round of 32 as they continue their historic World Cup campaign, while Curaçao bow out with pride after earning global admiration for their determined performances throughout the group stage
