Côte d'Ivoire striker Elye Wahi, currently under investigation for alleged match-fixing, has been denied permission to travel to Canada for his team's World Cup match against Germany, the Côte d'Ivoire football federation (FIF) announced on Thursday.
Visa Issue Blocks Travel
FIF stated that Wahi would not be able to join the squad for Saturday's game in Toronto because "the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage."
Wahi started and played 56 minutes in Côte d'Ivoire's opening World Cup match against Ecuador, a 1-0 victory in Philadelphia on Monday. He will remain in the United States pending the team's return, FIF confirmed.
Match-Fixing Allegations
The French football league reported on Wednesday that an "unusual amount of bets" were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match between Nice and Metz on 17 May. The game ended 0-0, and Wahi was indeed shown a yellow card. The league alerted relevant police and gambling authorities, as well as the French football federation.
The Marseille prosecutor's office confirmed that "a 23-year-old professional football player, competing in France's Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on 29 May 2026 as part of their investigation." The investigation covers alleged offenses of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. The player was questioned in police custody and released without detention, with the investigation ongoing.
FIF Support for Wahi
FIF noted that it had not been officially notified "of any judicial or administrative proceedings" concerning Wahi. "During this particularly delicate period, the FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Côte d'Ivoire national team," the federation said.
Wahi's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January and scored nine goals in 19 games, helping Nice reach the French Cup final.
