Nicolas Pepe hints at Ivory Coast international retirement after ruling out 2027 Afcon

Nicolas Pepe has fuelled speculation over his international future after bluntly ruling out playing at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and suggesting he may be nearing retirement from the Ivory Coast national team.

The Villarreal forward, 31, was speaking during an interactive Q&A with fans on his Snapchat account when questions about his future with the Elephants dominated the exchange.

Asked directly whether he would take part in the 2027 Afcon, Pepe responded with an unequivocal “non”, leaving no ambiguity over his stance on that tournament.

But pressed again by another supporter on the same subject, he softened his tone slightly, replying: “Je ne pense pas” (“I don’t think so”), before offering his most intriguing answer of the session when quizzed about a possible international retirement: “nous verrons bien” (“we will see”).

His brief but pointed remarks have intensified debate over whether the former Arsenal winger is preparing to draw a line under a turbulent chapter with the national team.

Clear rejection for 2027 Afcon

Pepe’s first response on the 2027 Afcon left little room for interpretation. In a single-word answer – “non” – he dismissed any prospect of featuring at the tournament, which will follow the expanded 2026 World Cup.

That categorical refusal comes despite the player still being active at club level in Europe’s top leagues, currently on the books at Spanish side Villarreal after spells at Lille, Arsenal and Trabzonspor.

While he later appeared slightly less absolute with “Je ne pense pas”, his initial rejection has been taken by many Ivorians as a sign that he no longer sees himself as part of the long‐term plans for the national side.

Ambiguity over retirement plans

It was Pepe’s response to a question about full international retirement that has created the biggest uncertainty.

When a fan asked if he was going to end his international career, Pepe answered: “nous verrons bien” – a deliberately open-ended reply that neither confirms nor denies plans to step away from the Elephants.

The ambiguity leaves room for multiple interpretations: that he is still weighing up his options, that he is waiting to see how discussions with the national set-up evolve, or that he is simply reluctant to make a definitive statement in a casual social media setting.

However, combined with his refusal to consider the 2027 Afcon, his comments are widely being read as an indication he is at least contemplating closing the international chapter of his career.

Strained relationship after Afcon omission

Pepe’s relationship with the Ivory Coast national team has been under scrutiny since he was dropped “pour des raisons extrasportives” – for off‐the‐field reasons – ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

He was left out of the squad after remarks he made in an interview a few weeks before the competition reportedly displeased figures within the national set-up. The exact nature of those comments was not detailed in the latest exchange, but the incident marked a clear low point between player and federation.

Despite that, he was later recalled for the 2026 World Cup, suggesting attempts had been made to rebuild bridges and reintegrate him into the national team framework.

Key question: is the Elephants chapter closing?

With a World Cup appearance under his belt and more than a decade of professional experience at the highest level, Pepe now appears to be at a crossroads.

His SnapChat answers raise a central question for Ivorian football: will the 2026 World Cup prove to be one of his final major acts in the orange shirt, or can he be persuaded to extend his international career beyond that?

For now, Pepe’s “nous verrons bien” leaves fans, coaches and pundits waiting for a more definitive declaration on whether one of Ivory Coast’s most high‐profile attackers is ready to take his final bow on the international stage.