AFCON 2025: Wilfried Zaha, the last-chance call-up with Ivory Coast | OneFootball

Wilfried Zaha, the last-chance call-up with Ivory Coast

Wilfried Zaha/@Ouest France

Emerse Faé has made the surprise decision to include Wilfried Zaha in his squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations – AFCON 2025 (December 21 to January 18).

The former Crystal Palace winger is currently playing in MLS with Charlotte on loan from Galatasaray. He has tallied 10 goals and 6 assists in 35 matches across the regular season, Playoffs, and League Cup.

With 5 goals in 33 international appearances, Zaha hasn’t featured for the Ivory Coast national team since October 2023, when he played in two friendlies against Morocco (1-1) and South Africa (1-1).

His return comes after mounting public pressure for the selection of the dynamic winger for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Has Emerse Faé bowed to the pressure? Perhaps, but the Elephants’ head coach insists that having a player of Zaha’s profile is crucial—someone who can make the difference both individually and for the team.

However, the 2023 African champion issued a stark warning to the 33-year-old, declaring he’s ready to drop him from the squad at the slightest misstep, even before the tournament ends.

Ivory Coast heads to Morocco to defend their title, drawn in a group with Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.