Not included in Côte d’Ivoire’s 27-man squad for the CAN 2023 at home from January 13 to February 11, 2024, Wilfried Zaha has broken his silence on social networks.
On Thursday, Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset opted to do without the services of Wilfried Zaha for the long-awaited home CAN. “Zaha was the most difficult case.
In the balance of the team, we have a lot of right-handed players. During the recent rallies, I felt that the player wasn’t very free. So it’s a coach’s choice,” explained the French tactician, before admitting half-heartedly that the player had been sidelined due to his divisive personality in the dressing room and within the staff.
“I tried to give priority to sporting matters and group life. (…) In the end, it’s after the competition that we’ll know whether it was a good or bad decision.”
Zaha plays fair
Wilfried Zaha envoie un message de soutien aux sélectionnés via son Instagram.#CAN2023 #AFCON2023 #CAF2023 pic.twitter.com/mBCpOIsTg6
— Le Kpakpato Sportif (@LKsportif) December 28, 2023
As for the main guy involved, he’s not holding a grudge and was keen to make it known via an Instagram Story post. “Good luck to the guys selected to represent the country.
I’ll be cheering from afar,” he wrote, fair play. As a reminder, Zaha was sidelined in November after refusing to join the squad on time. The 31-year-old winger’s repeated no-shows have alienated a large section of public opinion.
Former Orange defender Guy Demel, for example, voted against his potential call-up just hours before the list was announced.
“For Zaha, it’s not me who makes the decision, but if it were me who made it, I’ll tell you clearly, I wouldn’t take it,” he declared.
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