Crystal Palace Star Wilfried Zaha Explains Difference in Playing for an African Country and a European Nation

• Former England youth international Wilfried Zaha has opened up on the difference between playing for an African country and a European side
• The Crystal Palace star decided to represent Ivory Coast in 2016 after playing two times for England
• The former Manchester United player ended the 2021/22 English Premier League season as Crystal Palace's top scorer

Crystal Palace star, Wilfried Zaha, has explained the difference between playing for Ivory Coast and England.

The two-time capped England player switched nationalities to play for Ivory Coast in 2016.

In an interview with Total Media podcast, the 29-year-old stated there is a massive difference in playing for the two countries, claiming there is a major infrastructural deficit with the African countries.

"It's massive," he said when asked if there was a difference in playing for an African country and a European nation.

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"Bad in certain ways. But I feel with the African teams it more like family, you are united and with the European team's you get the red carpet wherever you go. The hotels are five-star and that's the difference.

"When I went back, you've got to take it up and just do what you have to do. I have made numerous complaints but I love my country. The only reason why I have made complaints is not because it's not good enough and the Africans are no where but it's because I want us to be better.

"I want us to go to the World Cup and compete and see us as contenders. Do this properly. Ninety percent of football is mentality and ten percent is what you do on the pitch and for you to get things right, I need to be staying in a decent hotel."

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Wilfried Zaha has played 28 times for Ivory Coast, scoring five goals for the Elephants.

Zaha picks Henry over Drogba as his favourite player

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Wilfried Zaha has ranked Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, as his best striker in the Premier League of all time.

The Crystal Palace forward waxed lyrical about Henry when he was asked to name his best forward in the Premier League.

Zaha also placed Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo second and Chelsea’s Didier Drogba third. Henry who was part of the invincible squad of 2004 was Zaha’s childhood hero.