Online Reporter
CÔTE D’IVOIRE striker Elye Wahi has not been cleared to travel to Canada for his country’s World Cup match against Germany as investigations into alleged match-fixing continue.
The Côte d’Ivoire Football Federation (FIF) announced on Thursday that Wahi would not join the squad for tomorrow’s fixture in Toronto after authorities failed to secure the necessary travel clearance.
According to the federation, the forward was unable to travel because “the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage”.
Wahi featured in Côte d’Ivoire’s opening World Cup match on Monday, helping his side secure a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia. The FIF said the striker will remain in the United States until the national team completes its World Cup assignment and returns home.
The development comes as French authorities investigate allegations linked to suspicious betting activity involving the player.
On Wednesday, the French Football League revealed that an “unusual amount of bets” had been placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during Nice’s Ligue 1 match against Metz in May.
The league said it was alerted by organisations that monitor betting markets after irregular betting patterns were detected around the fixture. The match, played on 17 May and which ended in a goalless draw, saw Wahi booked by the referee.
Following the alert, the league said the information was forwarded to the relevant police, gambling regulators and the French Football Federation for further investigation.
The Marseille prosecutor’s office confirmed that a professional footballer had been questioned as part of the inquiry.
“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 prosecutor’s office said.
The office added: “The investigation concerns alleged offences of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering.”
According to prosecutors, the player was interviewed while in police custody before being released without charge. The investigation remains ongoing.
Wahi’s representatives had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
The Côte d’Ivoire Football Federation stressed that it had not received any official notification linking the striker to judicial or administrative proceedings.
“The FIF said 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.’”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the investigation, the federation has publicly backed the player, describing him as a key figure in the national team setup.
Wahi joined Nice on loan from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in January and enjoyed an impressive second half of the season. He scored nine goals in 19 appearances and played an important role in helping the club reach the French Cup final.
For now, however, the striker’s immediate focus appears to have shifted from the World Cup to the off-field investigation that continues to attract attention in France. — Guardian Football
