Ivory Coast March into Knockouts

The Elephants of Ivory Coast made history by advancing to the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup for the very first time, defeating Curaçao 2-0 in a controlled, professional performance.

Nicolas Pépé was the hero, scoring both goals to ensure his nation's place in the round of 32.

The victory sparked mass celebrations in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan, where the government declared a national holiday to mark the achievement.

The post-match atmosphere was only soured by a verbal altercation, with the Ivorian manager fiercely defending his team against perceived 'racist' comments from Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger, who had described their playing style as 'wild African football.'