Pepe Makes Comeback as Ivory Coast Drops Zaha for World Cup
Wilfried Zaha featured in three matches during AFCON 2025, contributing to Ivory Coast's quarter-final run, yet finds himself excluded from the World Cup roster. This represents the most striking call in manager Emerse Fae's 26-player selection—arguably more significant than Nicolas Pepe's return to the squad.
Pepe's comeback generates the main headlines, and rightfully so. The 30-year-old Villarreal attacker was dropped prior to AFCON following what Fae loosely referred to as off-pitch concerns, returned for March's international friendlies, and netted the match-winner versus Scotland. With eight goals and eight assists in La Liga this campaign, he's silenced any remaining critics. He's made the cut.
The Zaha exclusion tells a deeper tale
At 33 years old and currently with Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer, Zaha appears to no longer factor into Fae's long-term vision, despite receiving what seemed like an international career revival just months earlier. His AFCON selection felt like a final curtain call. That assessment proved accurate.
The two players generating the most buzz from club scouts—and in betting circles—are the two Diomandes. Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP has emerged as one of Europe's premier centre-halves. Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old RB Leipzig attacker, has attracted interest from clubs like Liverpool, with Leipzig reportedly demanding around £85 million. An impressive World Cup showing could make that valuation seem reasonable.
Amad Diallo earns his spot following an excellent campaign with Manchester United. Ibrahim Sangare represents Nottingham Forest in the squad. Evann Guessand joins from Crystal Palace. The Premier League representation provides familiarity for North American audiences—crucial for a team drawn into Group E with Germany and Ecuador, two nations with proven tournament credentials.
Group E breakdown and tournament outlook
Ivory Coast's group schedule unfolds as follows:
- vs Ecuador — June 15
- vs Germany — June 20
- vs Curacao — June 25 (World Cup newcomers)
The Curacao fixture appears to be the most likely source of three points. Germany presents the clearest challenge, while Ecuador—disciplined, structured, and lethal on counter-attacks—demands respect. Ivory Coast's odds of advancing will depend significantly on their performance in that second group match.
Fae himself represents one of international football's more remarkable management stories. He inherited the Ivory Coast position mid-tournament at AFCON 2023, despite having zero senior coaching experience, and delivered the championship. Now 42, he's navigating his maiden World Cup appearance. His squad selection balances experience where required—Kessie captains from Al Ahli, Seko Fofana provides stability from Porto—while maintaining enough attacking youth to threaten in the knockout stages should they advance.
A World Cup goal from Pepe would provide fitting closure to a career that never quite fulfilled its early promise. He'll be determined to maximize this opportunity.