News Focus
- Elye Wahi cannot enter Canada for Côte d’Ivoire’s World Cup fixture against Germany on Saturday.
- The striker faces a police probe over alleged betting fraud during a Ligue 1 match with Nice.
- He will remain in the United States while his squad travels to Toronto.
- French authorities arrested the forward in late May regarding suspicious wagers on a yellow card he received.
- The Ivorian Football Federation backs Wahi and states it received no official legal notification.
Côte d’Ivoire forward Elye Wahi will miss his nation’s World Cup match against Germany this weekend. Canadian officials have refused him entry due to an ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing.
The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed the decision on Thursday. They explained that authorities could not obtain the necessary paperwork for Wahi to enter Canadian territory at this stage.
The 23-year-old started Côte d’Ivoire’s opening game against Ecuador in Philadelphia on Monday. He played 56 minutes in the 1-0 victory. While his teammates fly to Toronto, Wahi must stay in the United States.
The investigation centres on a Ligue 1 clash between Nice and Metz on 17 May. France’s football league spotted unusual betting activity on Wahi receiving a yellow card in that match. The game finished 0-0, and the referee did caution the striker.
The French league reported the suspicious patterns to police and gambling regulators. Marseille prosecutors later confirmed they arrested a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player on 29 May. They questioned him about organised fraud, sports corruption, and money laundering. Police released him without formal charges, but enquiries continue.
Wahi’s representatives have not issued a statement. However, the FIF declared its full support for the player. The federation said it had received no official notice of court proceedings against him. They stressed that Wahi remains a key member of the national team.
Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January. He scored nine goals in 19 appearances and helped the club reach the French Cup final.