Elye Wahi Denied Canada Entry for Côte d’Ivoire’s World Cup Clash with Germany
Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi will not feature in Saturday’s World Cup group stage match against Germany in Toronto after the country’s football federation confirmed he had been unable to secure the administrative authorisations required to enter Canada.
According to The Guardian, the Côte d’Ivoire Football Federation (FIF) announced on Thursday that “the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage”. Wahi will remain in the United States while his teammates travel north for the game.
The news comes at a difficult moment for the 23-year-old forward, who had started impressively as Côte d’Ivoire beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opening game in Philadelphia on Monday. His absence is a significant blow to a side already navigating a tricky group.
Match-Fixing Investigation in France
The backdrop to the travel issue is a French investigation into alleged match manipulation. The Ligue 1 governing body flagged suspicious betting activity surrounding a Nice versus Metz match on 17 May — a game that ended 0-0 and in which Wahi, who had joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, was booked. An unusual volume of international bets had reportedly been placed on Wahi receiving a yellow card during that fixture.
The Marseille prosecutor’s office confirmed that a professional footballer was arrested on 29 May 2026 as part of a broader inquiry into alleged organised fraud, sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. The player was questioned and released without being detained, with the investigation described as ongoing.
Wahi had been in fine form for Nice before the tournament, scoring nine goals in 19 appearances and helping the club reach the French Cup final.
Federation Stands Behind Wahi
The FIF has sought to strike a supportive tone, stating it had not been officially informed of any judicial or administrative proceedings against Wahi. The federation expressed its full confidence in the player and described him as an important part of the national setup.
Representatives for Wahi had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
For UK bettors following the tournament closely, the situation is a reminder of how off-field developments can quickly reshape team selections and betting markets. Keep an eye on our World Cup 2026 hub for the latest team news, and check the live standings as the group stage unfolds.