As expected, Wilfried Zaha was included in the Ivory Coast’s provisional 24-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, but with doubts persisting about the wideman’s international future, could the unrest disrupt the Elephants’ preparations?
The controversy and confusion surrounding Zaha stems from the fact that he was previously an England international, and made two friendly appearances for the national side in 2012 and 2013 before switching nationality in late November.
The Ivorians had been in extensive discussions with the player, his family and his representatives before he was unveiled as an Elephants player, and having gone through all this trouble, it was little surprise when the Crystal Palace man was included in Michel Dussuyer’s provisional list.
Zaha’s decision to convert to the Ivorian cause was also celebrated in light of the injury sustained by the national side’s star forward Gervinho.
The 29-year-old ruptured his left knee ligaments in October, and after being one of the stars of the last Nations Cup, his absence is a major blow for the West Africans and a loss for the tournament as a whole.
However, if there was anyway to get over the attacker’s injury problems, it was to welcome a younger - and arguably brighter - model into the fold.
“Gervinho’s absence weighs down on us, for sure,” Dussuyer told journalists on Wednesday, “but we have had several weeks to get used to the idea.
“The arrival of Zaha is therefore great news. His profile is similar to Gervinho’s.”
Such has been Zaha’s fine form at Palace this season - he’s been a rare ray of light in the Eagles’ miserable campaign to date - that he has the potential not just to start for the Ivorians, but to be one of Dussuyer’s key assets and a possible star of the tournament.
Elephants fans are excited about their new asset and, with six Premier League assists and three goals so far this term, it’s easy to see why.
However, his form has also piqued the interest of current England boss Gareth Southgate, who has implored the wideman to reconsider his decision to represent the land of his birth.
While England’s last-gasp effort to salvage Zaha has appeared to have fallen on deaf ears, Southgate has a new ally - and one with significant clout - in the former of new Palace boss Sam Allardyce.
It’s ironic that Big Sam - dismissed from the Three Lions job in late September for his well-publicised and ill-advised remarks - is now potentially set to make his biggest impact yet as national team boss, ensuring the services of the scintillating Zaha … even if he does have vested interests.
“I haven’t had long enough yet to sit him down and ask him about it. It only popped up today that he might be going to the Africa Cup of Nations, so I’ll have to find it out next week when I sit down with him. It would obviously be a massive blow for me and Crystal Palace.”
While Zaha could resist the appeals of Southgate, the prospect of arguing it out with the tenacious Big Sam is a different ball game altogether!
While the former West Ham United boss’s entreaties may ultimately come to naught, the fact that there is still an element of uncertainty - at least publicly - ought to represent a point of concern for Dussuyer with their title defence set to kick off in two and a half weeks.
The Elephants are currently enjoying a remarkable undefeated streak, and while they had appeared primed to overcome the loss of the fading Golden Generation, the retirement of Yaya Toure, and Gervinho’s injury with some conviction, could the uncertain presence of this outsider in the squad threaten their ancon chances.
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