Wilfried Zaha has revealed the secret to his confidence on the pitch – a fresh trim.

The Palace winger  entrusts his locks to Nikky Okyere, who owns and operates a highly thought of barbershop in south London, Slick Rick, serving the locals and the capital’s famous faces in equal measure.

He has a long list of high-profile clients, including several of Crystal Palace’s first team, and has even spent time with the Ghanaian national team providing his services. The likes of Wilf and Bakary Sako swear by his skills and even invite him into their homes to keep them looking sharp, something which is explored in a BBC Africa documentary on the follicle oracle himself.

Zaha employs the services of Ghanaian barber Okyere on a regular basis

“Before a game I like to have a fresh trim for my confidence,” says Zaha. “So Barbers are so important.

“The interaction you have with your barber is not like just a fan. You actually sit down and talk about personal things.”

He added: “A haircut will take me from a 5 to a 10, trust me,” he laughs. “A fade will make you a different person.”

The video also explores Nikky’s background, his roots in Accra and the promise he made his mother to become the biggest barber in the UK.

Bakary Sako discusses his relationship with Okyere who reveals the big footballing names in his contact book, including other Eagles Christian Benteke and Mamadou Sakho.

To watch the video: https://youtu.be/iWHuoSocCvY