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[the-telegraph-sport-yahoopa-blog]

Wilfried Zaha: I do not regret picking Ivory Coast over England

Some(Wilfried Zaha applauds the Crystal Palace fans after their match at Watford on Boxing Day) Some(2016 Getty Images)

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has said he does not regret choosing to play for Ivory Coast over England and knows he made the right decision to switch his national-team allegiance.

Zaha, who has made his Ivory Coast debut in a warm-up match for the Africa Cup of Nations in recent days, was unswayed by current England boss Gareth Southgate's appeal that he remain available for England.

The 24-year-old, who has played twice for England, told his new team's official website: "I made my choice. Now I want to play with Côte d'Ivoire.

"It is rewarding first because I am proud to play for my country, then because the Ivoirian selection has quality players and it has always been a pool of talent.

"I left for England [as a child] and I did not return. So I did all my classes in my adopted country and it was the most normal thing in the world that I played for the English youth selections.

New start: Wilfried Zaha is unveiled as an Ivory Coast player Credit: fedivoir.com

"But for the past four years, I have had ample time to analyse the situation and to take into account the offers of the Ivorian federation. So I made the right choice and I do not regret it."

Zaha made two uncompetitive substitute appearances for England - against Sweden in November 2012 and against Scotland in August 2013 - after playing 15 times for England's age-group teams since 2011.

❤⚽️ #CIV ���� pic.twitter.com/w2oebxjsjo

— Wilfried Zaha (@wilfriedzaha) January 5, 2017

Under Fifa regulations, a player can switch national allegiance as long as he has not competed in any competitive matches for the nation he first represented.

In September 2016, Fifa rejected the request of Stoke's Bojan Krkic to switch nationality from Spain to Serbia, as his sole Spanish cap was earned in a 25-minute cameo in a World Cup qualifier in 2008.

Zaha appears to have settled well with the Elephants, providing an assist on his debut, and is looking forward to his first major tournament experience later this month.

"My relationships with my teammates are warm. I appreciate the atmosphere in the group and I build morale for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Je suis très content d'avoir joué mon premier match avec la Côte d'Ivoire| very happy to play my first match with Ivory Coast �������� #afconpic.twitter.com/Qe1neNkNwJ

— Wilfried Zaha (@wilfriedzaha) January 8, 2017

"It is rewarding first because I am proud to play for my country, then because the Ivoirian selection has quality players and it has always been a pool of talent.

"I want to be able to offer a 3rd African Cup to Côte d'Ivoire and make Ivorians happy. That is my ambition in the short term. Then we need a qualification at the 2018 World Cup."

Zaha was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 1992 before moving with his family to Croydon at the age of four.

Signing for Crystal Palace's academy aged 12, Zaha has clocked more than 200 appearances for the Eagles either side of an unsuccessful 18-month spell at Manchester United.

AFCON losses PL