Former England star, who switched national teams, excluded from AFCON squad

Former England international Wilfried Zaha snubbed from Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations squad

The former two-cap England international Wilfried Zaha was left off the Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, a major blow to the Galatasary winger’s international career. Since switching allegiance from England to Ivory Coast in 2017, Zaha had hoped to secure more international caps, but it seems that decision has not paid off. His omission from the 27-man squad raised eyebrows, given his limited appearances for Ivory Coast this year. Despite his struggles on the international stage, Zaha has been a standout player for Galatasaray, scoring six goals in 20 appearances and is expected to play in a Turkish Super Cup fixture against Fenerbahce.

Expectations Fall Short

After making the decision to switch from the England national team to the Ivory Coast in 2017, Wilfried Zaha’s hopes of increasing his international appearances have not materialized. Despite his commitment to his new team, missing out on the AFCON squad is a setback. With only two appearances in friendlies this year and missing out on Cup of Nations qualifiers, Zaha’s international career with Ivory Coast has not gone as planned.

The Future of Wilfried Zaha

Despite his disappointment in being left out of the Ivory Coast’s AFCON squad, Wilfried Zaha has continued to thrive at club level. Having joined Galatasaray in 2021, Zaha has already made a significant impact, scoring six goals in 20 appearances. His successful start at the Turkish club indicates that while his international career may be uncertain, Zaha remains a top-class player capable of making a difference on the pitch for his current team.