Jean-Michaël Seri has downplayed any possibility of Wilfried Zaha returning to the Ivory Coast national team, insisting that the focus has shifted entirely to the squad’s recent success.
Zaha was notably absent from the Elephants’ victorious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign earlier this year, having been omitted from the squad by former coach Jean-Louis Gasset after pulling out of international duty in November 2023.
While current head coach Emerse Faé has never explicitly ruled out a recall, the likelihood of Zaha returning appears slim.
Seri, who plays for Al-Orobah in Saudi Arabia, was clear in his stance when speaking about the situation.
“It hasn’t been talked about since we won. People talked, whispered, gave opinions, but… From the moment you win a competition, you no longer talk about those who were absent. Today, I think there is no longer any need to talk about that,” he said.
‘No player is indispensable’
The experienced midfielder reinforced the notion that no individual is irreplaceable, using football’s biggest stars as examples.
“I’ve always said that at club or national team level, there are no indispensable players. There are important players, but no one is indispensable. The aliens that are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo left, and FC Barcelona still exists, Real Madrid continued to move forward and win. Players who think they are indispensable are wrong,” he added.
Seri suggested that Zaha’s absence was only a major talking point because fans and analysts were curious about whether he would play at AFCON.
However, following the team’s triumph, he believes the discussion is over.
“The Zaha case is no longer relevant. They were talking about it because they wanted to see him there. But we won, it’s over, people have forgotten, it’s over,” he stated.
Emerse Faé’s approach
Emerse Faé, who guided the Elephants to AFCON glory after taking over mid-tournament, has yet to comment directly on Zaha’s future.
However, the growing depth in Ivory Coast’s attacking options suggests that the 31-year-old former Manchester United and Crystal Palace winger may struggle to reclaim a place in the squad.
With the national team now focused on upcoming qualifiers and competitions, it remains to be seen whether Zaha will attempt to force his way back into contention.
For Seri, however, the matter is settled, and Ivory Coast is moving forward without him.
