Powerful Figures Behind Pépé’s AFCON Snub, Player Claims

Ivorian international Nicolas Pépé has sensationally claimed that influential figures within Côte d’Ivoire’s football hierarchy were responsible for his eleventh-hour exclusion from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad for Morocco.

Pépé revealed he was on the provisional list right up until the official announcement. Speaking about the turn of events, the winger explained that the national team coach attempted to contact him just before the squad was unveiled.

“The coach called me before his press conference. I didn’t answer. He called me twice, and I didn’t answer,” Pépé stated. “I wanted to make him understand that there was no point in calling me then, because it was all still very much in the heat of the moment: the squad list had just been released. So, whatever he was going to say, it wasn’t going to work. It wasn’t the right time to talk.”

The former Arsenal forward added that the coach later clarified the decision to drop him was not entirely his own. “He understood right away, too, because he’d already mentioned before that we’d see each other for the Africa Cup of Nations. So he understood my reaction, didn’t press the issue, and I think we spoke again two days later,” Pépé continued. “That’s when he explained everything. Basically, he made it clear that it wasn’t his fault, that it had gotten out of hand, and that I was still on the list just minutes before they were supposed to announce it.”

Pépé also confirmed he later discussed the matter with the federation’s president. This disclosure is expected to ignite further debate regarding selection transparency in Ivorian football, raising questions about external influence in major tournament squad decisions.

Ivorian international Nicolas Pépé has sensationally claimed that influential figures within Côte d’Ivoire’s football hierarchy were responsible for his eleventh-hour exclusion from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad for Morocco.

Pépé revealed he was on the provisional list right up until the official announcement. Speaking about the turn of events, the winger explained that the national team coach attempted to contact him just before the squad was unveiled.

“The coach called me before his press conference. I didn’t answer. He called me twice, and I didn’t answer,” Pépé stated. “I wanted to make him understand that there was no point in calling me then, because it was all still very much in the heat of the moment: the squad list had just been released. So, whatever he was going to say, it wasn’t going to work. It wasn’t the right time to talk.”

The former Arsenal forward added that the coach later clarified the decision to drop him was not entirely his own. “He understood right away, too, because he’d already mentioned before that we’d see each other for the Africa Cup of Nations. So he understood my reaction, didn’t press the issue, and I think we spoke again two days later,” Pépé continued. “That’s when he explained everything. Basically, he made it clear that it wasn’t his fault, that it had gotten out of hand, and that I was still on the list just minutes before they were supposed to announce it.”

Pépé also confirmed he later discussed the matter with the federation’s president. This disclosure is expected to ignite further debate regarding selection transparency in Ivorian football, raising questions about external influence in major tournament squad decisions.