2023 AFCON: Zaha excluded from Cote d’ivoire 27-Man squad 

 

Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha has not been called up by coach Jean-Louis Gasset in Cote d’ivoire 27-man African Cup of Nations squad.

The 31-year-old, who moved to Turkey from Crystal Palace in the close season, has only played in two friendlies for Ivory Coast this year, missing their Cup of Nations qualifiers and last month’s first round of World Cup qualifying.

English-based players who were included in the squad are Nottingham Forest trio Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare, and Serge Aurier, as well as Brighton and Hove Albion striker Simon Adingra and Hull City’s Jean Michael Seri.

Also included in the Cote d’ivoire team is former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe.

Ivory Coast squad includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and 10 attackers. Manager Patrice Gasset will lead his team in a friendly against Sierra Leone on January 6 at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro as part of their preparations for the tournament.

The Ivory Coast will begin their AFCON campaign against Guinea-Bissau on January 13, followed by matches against Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Group A.