Wilfried Zaha: 'No regrets over rejecting England for Ivory Coast'

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Hull City at Selhurst Park on April 25, 2015
© Getty Images
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha says that he does not regret snubbing England for the Ivory Coast.

Wilfried Zaha has insisted that he does not regret selecting to represent Ivory Coast rather than England.

The Crystal Palace winger was eligible to play on the international stage with the Three Lions, and got a taste of it by featuring in two friendlies against Sweden and Scotland in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

However, last year Zaha, who was born in Abidjan, switched his allegiance to the Ivory Coast, being allowed to do so having never represented England in a competitive match.

"I left for England and I did not return to the [Ivory Coast] so I did all my schooling in my adopted country and it was most normal that I played for the England youth teams," Zaha told the national side's official website.

"For the past four years, I have had ample time to analyse my situation and to take into account the solicitations of the Ivorian Football Association. Now I have made my choice. Now I want to play with the Ivory Coast.

"It has been rewarding, firstly because I am proud to play for my country, then because the Ivorian selection has quality players and has always been a reservoir of talent. So I made the right choice and I do not regret it."

Zaha and his teammates are preparing for Ivory Coast's opening Africa Cup of Nations clash against Togo, scheduled for January 16.

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Hull City at Selhurst Park on April 25, 2015
Read Next:
Zaha included in final Ivory Coast squad
>


Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea21171345153052
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs21136243142945
3Liverpool21136249242545
4Arsenal21135348222644
5Manchester CityMan City21133541261542
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd21117332201240
7Everton219663223933
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom218582828029
9Stoke CityStoke217682733-627
10Burnley2182112331-826
11Bournemouth2174103037-725
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2174102635-925
13Southampton216691926-724
14Watford2165102336-1323
15Leicester CityLeicester2156102434-1021
16Middlesbrough214891722-520
17Crystal Palace2144133040-1016
18Hull City2144132045-2516
19Sunderland2143142040-2015
20Swansea CitySwansea2143142349-2615