Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who’s beneath investigation for alleged betting-related offenses, has not been approved to journey to Canada for his workforce’s subsequent World Cup match towards Germany, the Ivorian soccer federation mentioned on Thursday.
Ivory Coast faces Germany on Saturday in Toronto.
The federation mentioned Wahi, who’s beneath investigation in France, won’t be able to journey with the squad as a result of “the necessary administrative authorizations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.”
Wahi began in assault for Ivory Coast when it beat Ecuador 1-0 in its opening recreation in Philadelphia on Monday. He will stay within the United States pending the workforce’s return, the federation mentioned.
The French soccer league mentioned on Wednesday that an “unusual amount of bets” have been positioned internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card throughout a Ligue 1 recreation with Nice in May. The French league was alerted by companions monitoring betting markets about suspicious betting exercise at worldwide stage regarding Nice’s residence recreation towards Metz on May 17, which ended 0-0, and by which Wahi was proven a yellow card.
The French league (LFP) mentioned it handed this info to related police and playing authorities, in addition to the French Football Federation.
Asked whether or not Wahi was questioned by police, the Marseille prosecutor’s workplace advised the Associated Press that “a 23-year-old professional football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on May 29, 2026, as part of their investigation.”
The workplace added “the investigation concerns alleged offenses of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering.” The participant was questioned whereas in police custody and was launched with out being detained. The workplace added the investigation was ongoing.
Wahi’s representatives didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) mentioned it has not been formally notified “of any judicial or administrative proceedings” regarding Wahi.
“During this particularly delicate period, the FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him,” it mentioned. “Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Ivory Coast national team.”
May 17 was the final spherical of the Ligue 1 season. Less than two weeks later, Wahi helped struggling Nice keep in Ligue 1 when he scored twice in a 4-1 win over Saint-Etienne within the second leg of their promotion-relegation playoff.
The 23-year-old Wahi had joined Nice on mortgage from German membership Eintracht Frankfurt in January and scored 9 objectives in 18 video games general, serving to Nice attain the French Cup ultimate.