Cote dIvoire summons Zaha for AFCON championship protection

The titleholders Cote dIvoire have brought back 33 year old ex Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.

Zaha currently with Major League Soccer team Charlotte features in a 26 player roster set to compete against Mozambique Cameroon and Gabon in Group F.

He missed out on the Elephants lineup the previous year as the hosts Cote dIvoire barely advanced to the knockout rounds before defeating Nigeria 2 1 in the Abidjan final.

We require seasoned players and for Zaha his skill in outmanoeuvring opponents along with his recent performances tipped the scales coach Emerse Fae explained during the squad reveal on Ivorian television.

Zaha who only featured four times over two seasons at Manchester United prior to rejoining Palace initially on loan and then for good earned two caps for England prior to changing his international commitment.

Midfielder Jean Michael Seri based in Slovenia returns following a prolonged injury layoff that kept him away from Cote dIvoire duty since October of the prior year.

Manchester United forward Amad Diallo stands among four Premier League representatives in the squad for the championship bid. Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand serves as one of two reserve options.

Sunderland forward Simon Adingra who was in the victorious 2024 AFCON team and Spain dwelling ex Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe did not secure spots.

Simon faces challenges securing a regular starting role at Sunderland so we must proceed without his talents Fae noted.

Cote dIvoire aims for a fourth AFCON crown having triumphed in the leading African football event in 1992 and 2015 both via extended penalty contests against Ghana and in 2024.

Squad

Goalkeepers Yahia Fofana Caykur Rizespor TUR Mohamed Kone Charleroi BEL Alban Lafont Panathinaikos GRE

Defenders Emmanuel Agbadou Wolverhampton Wanderers ENG Willy Boly Nottingham Forest ENG Ousmane Diomande Sporting POR Guela Doue Strasbourg FRA Ghislain Konan Gil Vicente POR Odilon Kossounou Atalanta ITA Evan Ndicka Roma ITA Christopher Operi Istanbul Basaksehir TUR Armel Zohouri Iberia 1999 GEO

Midfielders Seko Fofana Rennes FRA Jean Philippe Gbamin Metz FRA Christ Inao Oulai Trabzonspor TUR Franck Kessie Al Ahli KSA Ibrahim Sangare Nottingham Forest Jean Michael Seri Maribor SLO

Forwards Vakoun Bayo Udinese ITA Oumar Diakite Cercle Brugge BEL Amad Diallo Manchester Utd ENG Yan Diomande Leipzig GER Sebastien Haller Utrecht NED Jean Philippe Krasso Paris FC FRA Bazoumana Toure Hoffenheim GER Wilfried Zaha Charlotte USA

Standby Evann Guessand Aston Villa ENG Parfait Guiagon Charleroi BEL

Coach Emerse Fae CIV