Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi has been denied permission to travel to Canada for his team’s World Cup match against Germany, as announced by the Côte d’Ivoire Football Federation (FIF) on Thursday. This decision comes as Wahi is currently under investigation for alleged match-fixing.
The FIF clarified that Wahi will not join his teammates for the upcoming match scheduled for Saturday in Toronto, stating that “the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage” Consequently, he will remain in the United States until the team’s return.
Wahi played a crucial role in Côte d’Ivoire’s opening match against Ecuador, contributing to their 1-0 victory in Philadelphia on Monday. His absence for the next match raises concerns for the national team.
On Wednesday, the French football league revealed that an “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.” had been placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match with Nice in May. They were alerted by partners monitoring betting markets regarding suspicious activities related to Nice’s home game against Metz on May 17, which ended in a scoreless draw, during which Wahi received a yellow card. The league has since shared this information with pertinent police and gambling authorities, alongside the French football federation.
The Marseille prosecutor’s office reported that “The investigation concerns alleged offecses of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering.” The office further disclosed details regarding the investigation, which encompasses allegations of organized fraud, sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. The player was interrogated during police custody but was later released without further detention. The investigation remains ongoing.
Wahi’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the FIF indicated it has not received any official notifications regarding judicial or administrative actions against Wahi. In light of the situation, the FIF expressed its support for the player, reaffirming their confidence in him.
“of any judicial or administrative proceedings”
Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, where he made a significant impact by scoring nine goals in 19 appearances, helping the club reach the French Cup final.
