Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi has been ruled out of his nation’s upcoming World Cup fixture against Germany after being refused entry into Canada, as French authorities continue to investigate allegations of spot-fixing linked to a Ligue 1 match earlier this year. The 23-year-old remains in the United States while the probe into suspicious betting activity unfolds.
The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has confirmed that Wahi will not travel with the rest of the squad to Toronto for Saturday’s World Cup encounter against Germany. According to reports, the forward was unable to obtain the necessary administrative clearance to enter Canada and will stay in the United States instead. This development follows his arrest in late May as part of ongoing legal inquiries in France. Although Wahi featured in Ivory Coast’s opening 1-0 victory over Ecuador, he has been omitted from the travelling contingent for the next fixture.
Despite the uncertainty, the FIF has expressed its full support for Wahi, reaffirming that he remains an integral part of the national setup. In an official statement released on June 17, 2026, the federation said: “The Ivorian Football Federation has taken note of the various articles and information published concerning the Ivorian international Elye Wahi. To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him. In this particularly delicate period, the FIF extends all its support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important element of the Ivory Coast national team.”
The statement further explained: “The FIF also informs that the player will not be able to join the delegation’s trip to Canada. Indeed, the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage. Elye Wahi will therefore remain in the United States pending the team’s return.”
The investigation reportedly centres on a Ligue 1 match between Nice and Metz on May 17. Authorities are examining whether Wahi deliberately received a yellow card in the 35th minute of the game, which triggered his fifth booking of the season and an automatic suspension for a crucial relegation play-off. The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) is said to have flagged suspicious betting patterns around the booking, prompting the criminal inquiry. Investigators are exploring whether the incident was part of a broader scheme involving betting manipulation.
The LFP has not initiated any disciplinary measures against the player and has stated that it will refrain from commenting further until the criminal proceedings conclude. Nevertheless, it reiterated its determination to uphold the integrity of French football and confirmed that it reserves the right to act depending on the eventual findings of the investigation.
For Ivory Coast, Wahi’s absence represents a significant setback as they prepare for a challenging contest against Germany. Having started in the win over Ecuador, his unavailability limits the team’s attacking options at a crucial stage of the tournament. The forward is expected to rejoin the national squad when the Elephants return to Philadelphia for their next group fixture against Curacao. Meanwhile, the investigation in France continues, with no official decision or conclusion reached so far.
