Zaha nets first int’l goal as Ivory Coast thump Uganda 3-0

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has scored his first international goal with Ivory Coast in their 3-0 win against Uganda on Wednesday.

The match, which was played at the New York University stadium in Abu Dhabi, is the final pre-tournament friendly for both countries, as the CAF African Cup of Nations championship is set to kick-off on Saturday.

It’s apparently a reality check for the Cranes of Uganda who are qualifying for the Africa’s topmost competition for the first time since finishing runners-up in 1978, as they fell 3-0 to the reigning African Champions.

Zaha, who switched international allegiance from England to Ivory Coast ahead of AFCON 2017, has featured in two games, one goal and one assist – a start of his international career that he only could have dreamt of.

Read Also: Zaha eyes a third Nations Cup for Ivory Coast

The 24-year old had earlier stated he has ‘no regrets’ over the decision to join his nation of birth rather than England, where he schooled.

Zaha scored the second goal for Ivory Coast against Uganda after a first goal from Jonathan Kodjia and before a finishing strike by Serge Aurier, all in the second half of the game.

In his first game against Sweden on Sunday, the winger provided an assist for his teammate Giovanni Sio, who scored the winning goal.

Ivory Coast will face Togo in their first game of the African Cup of Nations on Monday before facing DR Congo and Morocco in their remaining group stage games, in their bid to retain the title they won in Equatorial Guinea two years ago.

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