Overview
- Ivory Coast named a 26-man squad on Dec. 9 for the Dec. 21–Jan. 18 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they will face Mozambique, Cameroon and Gabon in Group F.
- Faé said he had been in talks with Zaha for months and selected him for his dribbling threat and current form after a multi-year absence from the national team.
- Midfielder Jean-Michael Seri was also recalled, while Simon Adingra and Nicolas Pepe were left out and defender Wilfried Singo was ruled out through injury.
- Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande feature in the forward options as the titleholders finalize their attacking mix.
- Zaha, 33, played this year for MLS side Charlotte on loan from Galatasaray and has 33 caps and five goals for the Ivorians after switching allegiance from England.