Ivory Coast attacker Nicolas Pepe breaks silence after shock AFCON 2025 snub

Villarreal attacker Nicolas Pepe has broken his silence after being dropped from the final Ivory Coast squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Coach Emerse Fae confirmed his squad for the continental showpiece on Tuesday, with several top players including Nicolas Pepe, Simon Adingra and Wilfried Singo missing out on the list for the tournament in Morocco.

The omission of the 30-year-old comes as a surprise to the many, having featured consistently for the Spanish outfit this season.

Since the commencement of the campaign, the forward has racked up two goals and provided two assists in 20 appearances for Villarreal.

Following his unexpected exclusion from squad, the enterprising attacker has expressed his disappointment, while thanking his Villarreal teammates for support after racial abuse.

“Double blow for me. That’s football, that’s life. Thank you to La Liga, to my club Villarreal CF, and to everyone who has supported me after these past few days of harassment and racism. Good luck to my teammates,” he wrote.

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has been scheduled to take place in Morocco between December 2025 and January 2026, with 24 countries set to battle it out for the covetous trophy.

Below is the squad:

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Mohamed Koné (Charleroi SC, Belgium), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos, Greece)

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Boly Willy (Nottingham Forest, England), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP, Portugal), Guela Doué (RC Strasbourg, France), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta BC, Italy), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma, Italy), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Başakşehir, Turkey), Armel Zohouri (FC Iberia 1999, Georgia)

Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais, France), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (FC Metz, France), Christ Inao Oulaï (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest, England), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor, Slovenia)

Forwards: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese Calcio, Italy), Oumar Diakité (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Amad Diallo (Manchester United, England), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig, Germany), Sébastien Haller (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC, France), Bazoumana Touré (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC, USA)

Standby: Guessand Evann (Aston Villa, England), Guiagon Parfait (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium)