The Elephants' squad for AFCON 2025 has delivered its share of surprises. While Nicolas Pépé's absence has sparked much debate, it's Wilfried Zaha's return that raises the most tactical questions. Absent for nearly two years, the former Crystal Palace winger arrives in Morocco with a very specific mission.
A solution to the striker problem
Emerse Faé makes no secret of his intentions. Sébastien Haller's injury, Evann Guessand's still incomplete integration, and Jean-Philippe Krasso's persistent struggles have created an attacking void that the coach intends to fill with Zaha. At 32, the ex-Lyon man is no longer the explosive winger he was at Selhurst Park, but his attacking versatility represents a major asset in the Ivorian setup.
The choice may surprise given the league where the player now competes. In MLS with Charlotte FC, Zaha has tallied 10 goals and 6 assists in 35 matches – solid numbers, certainly, but in a competitive context quite different from European standards. Yet Faé stands firm: Zaha's experience and ability to create individual danger weigh more heavily in his thinking than the level of the American league.
A complementary profile in attacking play
From a tactical standpoint, Zaha brings a dimension that other Ivorian attackers lack. Unlike a pure finisher profile, the former Eagle excels in transition phases and ball-carrying. His ability to beat his direct opponent one-on-one, to draw fouls in the final third, and to create space through his runs could prove decisive in the tight matches that often characterize AFCON knockout stages.
The Elephants' staff appears to be betting on a hybrid role for the player. While Zaha has predominantly played on the left wing throughout his career, his deployment as a false nine could free up the flanks for Simon Adingra's runs or Franck Kessié's forward surges from midfield.
Integration: the key to the system
The question of integration into a group that triumphed without him a year ago remains. Faé is reassuring: Zaha is in constant communication with captain Kessié, and the atmosphere within the squad is reportedly excellent. His status as a "star" of the national team, despite a modest record of 4 goals in 33 caps, grants him legitimacy among the younger players.
Nevertheless, the pressure is immense. The Elephants begin their title defense against Mozambique this Wednesday (6:30 PM CET), and all eyes will be on Zaha. Having missed last year's home triumph, the Charlotte winger has a unique opportunity to rewrite his history with the national team. It's up to him to prove that at 32, this surprise return is not merely a sentimental gamble, but a fully assumed tactical decision.