Nicolas Pepe scored twice as Ivory Coast reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in their history following a 2-0 win over Curacao. 

Emerse Fae's side needed just a point to clinch a top-two finish in Group E, but they managed to claim all three, sending World Cup debutants Curacao packing without a win to their name.

Ivory Coast will now face either France or Norway in the round of 32.

Pepe needed just seven minutes to break the deadlock as he punished a mistake in the Curacao defence. Jurien Gaari's pass back to Joshua Brenet bounced kindly into the path of Yan Diomande, who crossed for the Villarreal forward to sweep home.

But Curacao responded well to going behind and were able to stifle Ivory Coast's attack, with Diomande's teasing cross just evading Amad Diallo inside the penalty area before Leandro Bacuna dragged his shot wide at the end of the first half. 

Franck Kessie saw his effort deflect off Livano Comenencia and just wide of the target, with Sherel Floranus then firing just over at the other end in a frantic opening to the second half. 

However, Ivory Coast got the all-important second goal in the 64th minute through Pepe, who collected Ibrahim Sangare's inch-perfect pass into the box and curled a sumptuous finish beyond Eloy Room, who could not repeat the heroics he displayed against Ecuador last time out.

Curacao threatened to halve the deficit, but Tahith Chong saw his attempt comfortably gathered by Yahia Fofana.

Ivory Coast almost added a third late on. However, Armando Obispo's outstretched leg turned Bazoumana Toure's cross behind. 

Pepe rolls back the years as Diomande dazzles again

Never before had Ivory Coast won two matches in a single edition of the World Cup, but inspired by a fantastic individual performance from the experienced Pepe, they were able to brush aside a team ranked 49 places below them in the FIFA rankings. 

At 31 years and 27 days old, Pepe became the second-oldest African player to score a double in a World Cup game, after Roger Milla (two braces at 38 in 1990), while he is also only the second Ivorian over 30 to score in the competition, joining Didier Drogba (32y, 101d) against Brazil in 2010. 

Pepe's opener was teed up by a player at the beginning of his international career in Diomande. The in-demand RB Leipzig forward is the first African teenager to assist a goal at the World Cup since Cameroon pair Rigobert Song (17y 354d) and Marc Vivien Foe (19y 050d) both did so in 1994. 

Diomande is also the only player this century to create 10+ chances and complete 10+ dribbles across his first three World Cup appearances.

Curacao's first appearance at the World Cup ended at the first hurdle. Dick Advocaat's side knew a win would see them qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, but they fell just short of becoming the lowest-ranked side to reach the knockout stages. 

But they rarely troubled Fofana in the Ivory Coast goal. They finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.47 from their 11 shots, with only two of those on target, compared to their opponents' tally of 1.3 from their seven attempts.