A Premier League star has made the shock purchase of his first football club, and it is in Africa.
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Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has bought Ivory Coast side Espoir Club D'Abengourou, and hopes to lead them up the football leagues of the west African nation.
The Abidjan-born winger left Ivory Coast and moved to London with his family when he was four years old, and now, along with his brother, is keen on establishing Espoir as a force in Ivorian football.
Zaha, who first represented the Elephants in 2017 after switching his international allegiance from England, has won 28 caps for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winners, and is looking to further immerse himself in Ivorian football.
"We have a U19 academy. We will play in the Division d'Honneur this season," Carin Zaha, Wilfried's brother, said of their acquisition of the club, as per SPORTbible.
"The objective is obviously to go up, but first we want our youngsters to be in good shape and gain experience."
Espoir currently play in the fourth division of Ivorian football, but the Zahas have ambitions of leading the club all the way to the MTN Ligue 1.
After Gervinho and Max Gradel, Zaha is the latest Ivory Coast international to own a club in the country, while Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie also owns a training facility in his home nation.
Zaha is currently with his national team as they look to follow up their 2-1 victory over Togo on Saturday with another win when they take on Guinea on Tuesday.
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The 29-year-old has started the 2022/23 season like a house on fire too, having bagged four goals in five Premier League games, and will be looking to continue his impressive club form when the Eagles take on Chelsea this Saturday.
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