AFCON 2025: Nicolas Pépé reacts to his non-selection for Ivory Coast

Nicolas Pépé’s reaction was not long in coming. Snubbed by Emerse Faé in the list of Ivory Coast’s Elephants for AFCON 2025, Villarreal’s winger reacted on social networks.

«Double trouble for me. It’s football, it’s life. Thank you to La Liga, my club in Villarreal and all those who have given me their support after these last days of harassment and racism. Good to my teammates,"

 wrote Pépé on Instagram.

The 2023 African champion who did not receive support from the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) in these moments, has since changed his Instagram profile picture by putting an image of him under the Villarreal jersey while he had been displaying with the 2023 AFCON trophy for a while prior.