Elye Wahi, the Ivory Coast striker under investigation for alleged match-fixing, has been denied authorization to travel to Canada for his team's World Cup match against Germany, the country's football federation (FIF) announced on Thursday.
Visa Denial
The FIF stated that Wahi would not be able to join the squad for Saturday's game in Toronto because the necessary administrative authorizations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.
Wahi started for Ivory Coast in their opening World Cup match against Ecuador in Philadelphia on Monday, playing 56 minutes in a 1-0 victory. He will remain in the United States pending the team's return, according to the FIF.
Match-Fixing Investigation
The French football league reported on Wednesday that an unusual amount of bets were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card while playing for Nice in a Ligue 1 match in May. The league was alerted by partners monitoring betting markets about suspicious activity concerning Nice's home game against Metz on 17 May, which ended 0-0, and in which Wahi was shown a yellow card.
The French league said it passed this information to relevant police and gambling authorities, as well as to the French football federation.
The Marseille prosecutor's office confirmed that a 23-year-old professional football player competing in France's Ligue 1 was arrested on 29 May 2026 as part of an investigation. The office added that the investigation concerns alleged offences of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. The player was questioned while in police custody and released without being detained, and the investigation is continuing.
Wahi's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
FIF Support
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 Ivory Coast national team.
Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January and scored nine goals in 19 games, helping Nice reach the French Cup final.
