In a shock twist, ex-Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha earned a call-up to the Ivory Coast national team for AFCON. Head coach Emerse Faé made the decision, selecting the Charlotte FC loanee for the games against Mozambique, Cameroon, and Gabon.
Zaha’s surprising inclusion comes alongside the equally surprising omissions of Sunderland attacker Simon Adingra and ex-Arsenal wonderkid Nicolas Pépé.
Emerse Faé has made it clear he prioritises time on the pitch over reputation. The dropping of Adingra, who has played only 320 minutes this season for the Black Cats, exemplifies this approach.
Zaha, however, has featured in the starting 11 of every Charlotte FC game. Since joining the MLS on loan in January. Despite struggling for minutes while on loan at Lyon in the first half of the 2024/25 season. Wilfred Zaha became a mainstay in Dean Smith’s side across the Atlantic.
Missing only four out of 39 games and playing the full 90 minutes in all but four matches.
Faé’s selections clearly demonstrate a desire for experience, and Zaha fits this profile perfectly. With 16 goal involvements in the U.S.A this season. The Ivorian is enjoying his best run of form since his time at Crystal Palace. Fans of The Elephants will hope he can maintain this level throughout this winter’s tournament.
Though Ivory Coast won the last edition of AFCON, Zaha did not feature, and he holds a very poor personal record in the competition.
Playing in three of the four tournaments since his national team debut in 2017, Zaha has made only 11 appearances, contributing towards four goals.
Zaha started all three of Ivory Coast’s games in AFCON 2017, where they failed to advance past the group stage.
In 2019, Zaha scored his first goal in the competition against Namibia in the final group stage game. He scored again in the Round of 16 clash against Mali, sending his team to the Quarter-finals. However, despite assisting in the next game against Algeria, The Elephants lost on penalties.
The next Cup of Nations again disappointed Zaha and his nation, as penalties eliminated them once more. This time, it was to eventual finalists Egypt.
Zaha was not in the squad when Ivory Coast finally won AFCON in 2023. Coach at the time Jean-Louis Gasset, believed he had better wide options, and Zaha’s form at Galatasaray did not warrant a call-up. Gasset eventually resigned after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea.
The former Cardiff City loanee will play for his country for the first time since October 2023, when he featured in a 1-1 draw against South Africa.
It is hard to predict how he will perform under Faé, as we have not seen the pairing yet. Zaha will likely battle for a spot on the left wing against Yan Diomande.
The RB Leipzig winger is only 19 and debuts in the competition, but he has impressed in Germany, racking up 11 goal contributions in 15 appearances this season.
Zaha’s behind-the-scenes role will be strong, and his personality and experience are a welcomed addition to the Ivory Coast squad. However, the wonderkid, who many tout as a future replacement for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, will likely start over him.
When we do see Zaha play, expect the same traits he demonstrated in the Premier League. ttacking threat, a creative spark, and an impressive ability to beat defenders and create chances.
