Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha caps Ivory Coast debut with assist

Off the mark: Wilfried Zaha (centre)
AFP/Getty Images
Sam Long9 January 2017

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha capped his Ivory Coast debut with a crucial assist in his nation's 2-1 victory over Sweden on Sunday afternoon.

The former England international, who made two friendly appearances for the Three Lions, switched his allegiance to the country of his birth last year.

Zaha has been included in the Elephants' African Nations Cup 2017 (AFCON) squad and marked his first appearance by providing an inch-perfect cross for Giovanni Sio to nod home a 50th minute winner.

Wilfried Kanon's own goal had put Sweden in front but Yao Serge Nguessan equalised on the stroke of half time before Sio's decisive effort.

Ivory Coast kick-off their AFCON campaign against Togo on January 16 and will also face DR Congo and Morocco in Group C.

Zaha could miss up to six weeks of the Premier League season while he is on international duty.

And Palace boss Sam Allardyce is hopeful Zaha and Bakary Sako, who represents Mali, can both avoid injury during their spell away from Selhurst Park.

"It's going to be a difficult January," said the Palace boss.

"We need to get as many of these players fit, I hope Bakary Sako and Wilfried Zaha don't get injured on international."

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