Wilfried Zaha called up for Elephants’ Afcon campaign

Crystal Palace ace Wilfried Zaha has been included in the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), just a month after Patrice Beaumelle, the manager, said the forward wanted to “reflect on the rest of his international career.”

Zaha was not called up by Ivory Coast for November’s World Cup qualifiers, with Beaumelle saying the Crystal Palace star “asked not to come”.

But Zaha denied his manager’s claims, insisting last month that he “never said that I am reconsidering my international future” and that playing for Ivory Coast “is an honour that I never, ever take for granted”.

Zaha went on to explain his absence from the World Cup qualifiers was due to a “viral infection” and that he had asked Beaumelle for permission to miss the games.

Zaha’s return is a boost for Ivory Coast as they bid to win the AFCON for the third time, following success in 1992 and 2015.

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Ivory Coast are in Group E, along with Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Algeria, the defending champions.

Zaha is joined in the squad by a number of other England-based players, including Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, Burnley’s Maxwel Cornet, Wolves’ Willy Boly, Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe and Fulham’s Jean Michael Seri.

But there is no place for Amad Diallo, who has made just one appearance for United this season.

Beaumelle said in August he wanted the 19-year-old winger to leave Old Trafford on loan to get more playing time.