Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has submitted a request to Fifa to swap his international allegiance from England to the Ivory Coast.
Abidjan-born Zaha grew up in England and won two caps for the Three Lions, but because they were in friendly games he is allowed to switch.
Zaha, 24, would be eligible to feature in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament in Gabon, which starts on 14 January, could see Zaha miss up to six weeks of the season for Palace.
An Ivorian Football Federation statement said Zaha had sent a letter to Fifa on Sunday requesting a nationality change.
Palace boss Alan Pardew said on Friday that Zaha had been “pushed forward, probably by his agent or people around him” to make the change but could “understand his frustration” at not being picked for England.
