Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) made history by reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time after beating Curacao 2-0 in their final Group E match on Thursday at Philadelphia. President Alassane Ouattara congratulated the team on their historic achievement and in a post on X, he praised the players and wished them success in the next stage of the tournament.&nbsp;"Bravo to our Elephants for this historic qualification to the second round of a FIFA World Cup final phase. Full speed ahead to the round of sixteen," he said in the X post.&nbsp;Nicolas Pepe was the star of the match, scoring both goals to help Ivory Coast finish second in Group E. The win also ended Curacao’s impressive first World Cup campaign.&nbsp;Ivory Coast started strongly and controlled the game from the beginning and took the lead in the seventh minute when Pepe finished a well-worked move with a calm strike past goalkeeper Eloy Room.&nbsp;Curacao needed a victory to stay in the tournament but found it difficult to break down Ivory Coast’s organised defence, although they created a few chances, but they could not seriously trouble the African side.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-is-trionda-making-it-difficult-for-goalkeepers-to-stop-the-football-1782455031577">FIFA 2026 | Is 'Trionda' making it difficult for goalkeepers to stop the football?</a>&nbsp;After halftime, Ivory Coast continued to dominate possession and controlled the pace of the match. Pepe scored his second goal in the 64th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-day-16-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-matches-in-india-1782458499924">FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 16 live streaming: When and where to watch matches in India?</a>&nbsp;In the final stages, Ivory Coast comfortably managed the game, while Curacao failed to create clear chances despite pushing forward.&nbsp;The victory gave Ivory Coast six points and secured their place in the knockout stage, finishing behind Germany in Group E. Germany, however, suffered a surprise 2-1 loss to Ecuador in their final group match.

The victory over Curacao took Ivory Coast to six points and secured their place in the knockout stage as Group E runners-up behind Germany

Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) made history by reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time after beating Curacao 2-0 in their final Group E match on Thursday at Philadelphia. President Alassane Ouattara congratulated the team on their historic achievement and in a post on X, he praised the players and wished them success in the next stage of the tournament. "Bravo to our Elephants for this historic qualification to the second round of a FIFA World Cup final phase. Full speed ahead to the round of sixteen," he said in the X post. Nicolas Pepe was the star of the match, scoring both goals to help Ivory Coast finish second in Group E. The win also ended Curacao’s impressive first World Cup campaign. Ivory Coast started strongly and controlled the game from the beginning and took the lead in the seventh minute when Pepe finished a well-worked move with a calm strike past goalkeeper Eloy Room. Curacao needed a victory to stay in the tournament but found it difficult to break down Ivory Coast’s organised defence, although they created a few chances, but they could not seriously trouble the African side. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | Is 'Trionda' making it difficult for goalkeepers to stop the football? After halftime, Ivory Coast continued to dominate possession and controlled the pace of the match. Pepe scored his second goal in the 64th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

The victory over Curacao took Ivory Coast to six points and secured their place in the knockout stage as Group E runners-up behind Germany.

FIFA 2026: Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara congratulates team on historic knockout qualification

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara removed his prime minister and dissolved his cabinet on Friday (Oct 6), said the presidency’s secretary general Aboudramane Cisse, according to Reuters. However, the reason for this unexpected move was not immediately known.&nbsp;

This comes a year after Ivorian PM Patrick Achi tabled his and his government’s resignation but was later re-appointed. This time around, Achi and all the other ministers have been removed from their posts by the presidential decree.&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know so far?</h2>

“The president expresses his gratitude to Prime Minister Patrick Achi and to all members of the government for their commitment to serving the nation over the past years,” said Cisse, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Ivory coast political upheaval: A fight for free speech

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It is not uncommon for presidents of the nation of 29.3 million people to make such drastic and unexpected changes to their government.

The ministers will temporarily remain in charge until a new prime minister and government are appointed.&nbsp;

The West African nation will hold a presidential election in 2025.&nbsp;Ouattara, who was re-elected as the president in 2020, has not yet said whether he will run again.

The incumbent president has been in power since his predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, was forcibly ousted after he refused to accept Ouattara’s internationally recognised victory in the November 2010 presidential election.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shocking-21-year-old-ivory-coast-football-player-moustapha-sylla-collapses-dies-during-match-watch-569560">SHOCKING: 21-year-old Ivory Coast football player Moustapha Sylla collapses, dies during match - Watch</a>

Ouattara won a second five-year term in 2015, with nearly 84 per cent of votes, in an election which was said to be valid as per observers from the United States.&nbsp;

However, in 2020, the opposition boycotted the poll in protest after they called Ouattara’s third term unconstitutional.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Re-appointed’</h2>

Though Achi had tabled his resignation in April last year after Ouattara’s plans to reduce the size of the cabinet, he was re-appointed a week later.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ivory-coast-readies-for-2025-ouattara-marshals-predecessors-world-of-africa-579205">Ivory coast readies for 2025 | Ouattara marshals predecessors | World of Africa</a>

The 67-year-old was appointed prime minister in March 2021 as the third PM in the West African state in the last three years following the deaths of Amadou Gon Coulibaly and Hamed Bakayoko, who both passed away in 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
 
&nbsp;

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Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara removed his prime minister and dissolved his cabinet on Friday (Oct 6), said the presidency’s secretary general Aboudramane Cisse, according to Reuters.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara removed his prime minister and dissolved his cabinet on Friday (Oct 6), said the presidency’s secretary general Aboudramane Cisse, according to Reuters. However, the reason for this unexpected move was not immediately known. This comes a year after Ivorian PM Patrick Achi tabled his and his government’s resignation but was later re-appointed. This time around, Achi and all the other ministers have been removed from their posts by the presidential decree. What do we know so far? “The president expresses his gratitude to Prime Minister Patrick Achi and to all members of the government for their commitment to serving the nation over the past years,” said Cisse, as quoted by Reuters. ALSO WATCH | Ivory coast political upheaval: A fight for free speech It is not uncommon for presidents of the nation of 29.3 million people to make such drastic and unexpected changes to their government. The ministers will temporarily remain in charge until a new prime minister and government are appointed. The West African nation will hold a presidential election in 2025. Ouattara, who was re-elected as the president in 2020, has not yet said whether he will run again. The incumbent president has been in power since his predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, was forcibly ousted after he refused to accept Ouattara’s internationally recognised victory in the November 2010 presidential election. ALSO READ | SHOCKING: 21-year-old Ivory Coast football player Moustapha Sylla collapses, dies during match - Watch Ouattara won a second five-year term in 2015, with nearly 84 per cent of votes, in an election which was said to be valid as per observers from the United States. However, in 2020, the opposition boycotted the poll in protest after they called Ouattara’s third term unconstitutional. ‘Re-appointed’ Though Achi had tabled his resignation in April last year after Ouattara’s plans to reduce the size of the cabinet, he was re-appointed a week later. ALSO WATCH | Ivory coast readies for 2025 | Ouattara marshals predecessors | World of Africa The 67-year-old was appointed prime minister in March 2021 as the third PM in the West African state in the last three years following the deaths of Amadou Gon Coulibaly and Hamed Bakayoko, who both passed away in 2020. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara removes PM, dissolves government

With local and regional elections eight months away and a Presidential poll due in 2025, the Ivorian President - Alassane Ouattara - is determined to bolster his majority. He has launched a massive campaign to drum up support, but he also did something that was unprecedented and unique - reconciling with his predecessors. Here's a report from Abidjan.

Ivory coast readies for 2025 | Ouattara marshals predecessors | World of Africa