ABIDJAN — Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been denied entry to Canada ahead of his country’s crucial FIFA World Cup match against Germany, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Nice striker will miss Saturday’s Group E clash in Toronto after failing to obtain the necessary authorization to enter Canadian territory.
The development comes amid an ongoing investigation in France related to allegations of spot-fixing during a Ligue 1 match last season.
French authorities confirmed that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was arrested last month as part of an investigation into alleged organized fraud, sports corruption, handling of criminal proceeds and money laundering. While prosecutors did not officially identify the player, French football authorities later confirmed that the investigation concerns Wahi.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said it had been alerted to an unusually high volume of betting activity related to a yellow card shown to Wahi during Nice’s league match against Metz in May.
The booking triggered a suspension that ruled him out of the first leg of Nice’s relegation playoff against Saint-Etienne. Wahi returned for the second leg and scored twice in a 4-1 victory that secured Nice’s Ligue 1 status.
French prosecutors said Wahi was released after questioning and that investigations remain ongoing.
In a statement, the Ivorian federation said it had not received any official notification regarding judicial or administrative proceedings involving the player.
“To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him,” the federation said.
The governing body also reaffirmed its support for the striker and described him as an important member of the national team.
Wahi started Ivory Coast’s opening World Cup match, a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, but will now remain in the United States while his teammates travel to Canada.
After facing Germany in Toronto, Ivory Coast will conclude the group stage against Curaçao in Philadelphia.
The LFP said it has not opened disciplinary proceedings at this stage because of the ongoing criminal investigation but reserved the right to take action depending on future developments.
Wahi becomes the second player at World Cup 2026 to be denied entry to Canada.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was previously refused a visa because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom. Canadian authorities later rejected an appeal seeking temporary permission for him to enter the country for Ghana’s opening World Cup match.
The absence of Wahi represents a significant blow for Ivory Coast as it prepares to face four-time world champion Germany in a match that could have major implications for qualification to the knockout stage.
Source: Saudi Gazette