"I wanted to retire with the national team" Nicolas Pépé

In partnership with

Foot Africa

·25 February 2026

"I wanted to retire with the national team" Nicolas Pépé

Nicolas Pépé revealed on Wednesday his desire to end his international career after missing out on the last Africa Cup of Nations. The non-sporting circumstances of his last-minute exclusion were particularly bitter for the Villarreal winger. During this challenging period, the 30-year-old received significant support from Didier Drogba."Didier Drogba stood by me, like many others, on Instagram. I confided in him about how I was feeling: I wanted to retire immediately from the national team. I just couldn't accept the situation... There’s a human side that goes beyond football. He advised me to focus on the upcoming World Cup," said Nicolas Pépé.