‘We are not setting any limits’ – Ex-Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe says ahead of Ivory Coast’s round of 32 meeting
By Luke Oluoch, June 26, 2026Ivory Coast’s brace hero in their final World Cup group clash against Curacao, Nicolas Pepe, has declared the team’s intention of going all the way in the competition.
The former Arsenal winger, now at Villarreal, was named Player of the Match as the Elephants made history by qualifying for the knockout stages for the very first time in the history of the global competition on Thursday, June 25, 2026, and stated that the accolade did not come as a surprise at all.
Believed
“Of course!” he replied without hesitation when quizzed if one day he believed he would score a historic brace at the World Cup.
Pepe has experienced a career of ups and downs, from facing rejection at Arsenal after his big-money move from the French Ligue 1, while his recent call-up to the national team was also met with criticism from different quarters.
He, however, holds that his focus is on delivering at the global stage, stressing that his team are not setting any limitations on themselves and what they are capable of achieving.
“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.”
“My brace was down to the team as well,” the 31-year-old added. “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’d like to dedicate this trophy to the lads.”
Ivory Coast will either play Norway or France in the World Cup’s last 32.
We are not setting ourselves any limits,” the confident striker added.
His coach, Emerse Fae, was also delighted to see Pepe repay the faith he placed in him by handing him two starts in three group-stage matches. “Nico knows it, and so do we: he’s a top-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’s good for him too.”