🇨🇮Côte d'IvoireWest Africa
Ivory Coast defeats Curaçao 2-0 to qualify for 2026 World Cup round of 16
via Abidjan.net8 min read
Ivory Coast secured its place in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 after a 2-0 victory over Curaçao on Thursday, June 25, during the third and final matchday of Group E at the Philadelphia Stadium. Following a 2-1 defeat against Germany, Emerse Faé's team needed a win and delivered a controlled performance against a Curaçao side also playing a decisive match. Nicolas Pépé was the standout player, scoring the opening goal in the 7th minute and adding a second in the 64th minute to seal the win for the Elephants. This high-level performance from Pépé was crucial to their historic qualification. With this success, Ivory Coast finishes second in Group E with six points, tied with group leader Germany, who had a better goal difference. This qualification marks a significant step for the team under Emerse Faé, demonstrating progress on the world stage. With a strong defense and an in-form Nicolas Pépé, the Ivorians are now looking to continue their journey in the knockout phase.
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Must ReadFirst Lady of Côte d'Ivoire, Madame Dominique Ouattara, inaugurated the European Institute of Cancerology IEC in Abidjan-Bingerville on Thursday, June 25, 2026. She stated that Côte d’Ivoire now possesses one of the most effective healthcare systems in the sub-region. The inauguration of the IEC follows the 2018 opening of the National Radiotherapy and Oncology Center CNRAO, with another national medical oncology center planned for Grand-Bassam in the coming months. Madame Ouattara highlighted the alarming cancer statistics in Côte d'Ivoire, with 21,300 new cases and 14,000 deaths recorded annually. She praised the IEC's commitment to providing excellent care at reduced rates, similar to Western standards, and its social initiatives, including support for underprivileged patients and training programs for Ivorian medical personnel. The First Lady also mentioned the Children of Africa Foundation's long-standing efforts in child protection, particularly through the Mother-Child Hospital of Bingerville HME, which provides free care for 90% of pediatric cancer cases. A new partnership between HME and IEC will further expand access to free radiotherapy treatments for children. Madame Ouattara concluded by expressing hope for patients, emphasizing that cancer can be treated and cured in Côte d'Ivoire through collective efforts.
The Côte d'Ivoire national football team, known as the Elephants, held their final training session on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in preparation for their 2026 World Cup match against Curaçao. This event is part of the team's ongoing participation in the 2026 World Cup.
Must ReadThe Central Bank of West African States BCEAO has extended the deadline for financial institutions to connect to the Interoperable Instant Payment System Platform PI-SPI within the West African Economic and Monetary Union UEMOA. Banks, electronic money institutions, and payment institutions now have until September 30, 2026, to integrate their services. Microfinance institutions supervised by the UMOA Banking Commission have an extended deadline until June 30, 2027. This decision, announced on June 24, 2026, aims to ensure a successful integration for all involved parties and maintain high service quality for the regional infrastructure. As of June 24, 2026, eighty participants were already connected, providing instant payment services to millions. An additional seventy-four institutions are currently conducting real-time tests before officially launching their services to the public. The BCEAO emphasizes its technical teams remain available to support participants, reaffirming its commitment to useful and inclusive financial innovation, and aiming to strengthen PI-SPI's achievements to foster a modern, fast, and accessible payment ecosystem across the Union. The PI-SPI platform, launched on September 30, 2025, is crucial for modernizing payment systems in the UEMOA region, designed to offer accessible, secure, and interoperable instant payment services among financial actors, thereby accelerating financial inclusion and digitalizing transactions.