Wahi ruled out of Germany clash
Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi has been denied a visa to enter Canada ahead of the Elephants’ second Group E match against Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed on Thursday that the forward would not travel with the team to Toronto for Saturday’s encounter.
“Elye Wahi will not be able to travel with the delegation to Canada,” the federation said in a brief statement without disclosing the reason for the visa refusal.
Investigation casts shadow over striker
The development comes as the 23-year-old is under investigation in France over allegations of spot-fixing during a French Ligue 1 match between his club, Nice, and Metz in May.
Spot-fixing is a form of match manipulation in which specific incidents during a game, such as yellow cards, are deliberately influenced to affect betting outcomes.
According to reports, betting operators detected an unusual volume of wagers on Wahi receiving a yellow card during the match and alerted authorities.
French league files complaint
On Wednesday, the French Professional Football League (LFP) announced that it had lodged a complaint with police over what it described as possible “sporting fraud and organised corruption.”
The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been announced against the player.
Wahi recently switched allegiance to Côte d’Ivoire
Born in France to Ivorian parents, Wahi switched his international allegiance to Côte d’Ivoire earlier this year and made his debut for the Elephants in March.
He started Côte d’Ivoire’s opening World Cup match against Ecuador, helping the African side secure a 1-0 victory.
Second World Cup player facing entry issues
Wahi is the second player at the tournament to encounter entry difficulties involving Canada.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has also reportedly faced challenges entering Canada because of legal issues linked to a sexual assault case in the United States.
The absence of Wahi is a significant setback for Côte d’Ivoire as they prepare for a crucial Group E showdown against Germany.
