Elye Wahi Denied Entry to Canada Ahead of Ivory Coast’s World Cup Clash with Germany

Posted : 18 June 2026

Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi will miss his country's upcoming World Cup group-stage match against Germany after being denied entry into Canada. The 23-year-old forward, who plays for French club Nice, was unable to secure the necessary authorization to enter Canadian territory, according to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).

Wahi had featured in Ivory Coast’s World Cup victory over Ecuador on Sunday, but he will now remain in the United States while the national team travels to Toronto for Saturday’s fixture. The federation stated that it has not received any official notification regarding legal or administrative proceedings involving the player but confirmed that his travel documents were not approved in time.

The striker is currently linked to an investigation in France concerning allegations of spot-fixing. Authorities are examining claims that he intentionally received a yellow card during Nice’s Ligue 1 match against Metz in May. Spot-fixing involves manipulating specific events within a match, such as bookings or corners, to benefit betting activity rather than influencing the final result.

French football authorities revealed they were alerted after detecting an unusually high volume of wagers related to Wahi receiving a caution in the match. Prosecutors in Marseille confirmed that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 footballer had been arrested as part of an investigation into suspected organized fraud, sports corruption, money laundering, and handling criminal proceeds. Although the player was not named, multiple reports identified Wahi as the individual involved.

Officials said the player was questioned while in police custody before being released, with investigations continuing. No charges have been announced, and the legal process remains ongoing.

The yellow card in question carried significant sporting consequences, as it triggered a suspension that ruled Wahi out of Nice’s first-leg relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne. After a goalless draw in that match, he returned for the second leg and scored twice in a 4-1 victory that secured Nice’s place in France’s top division.

The FIF expressed support for the forward, describing him as an important member of the national team and reaffirming its confidence in him while awaiting further developments. The federation added that Wahi will remain with the squad in the United States until the team returns from Canada.

Ivory Coast are scheduled to face Germany in Toronto before taking on Curacao in Philadelphia next week.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said it would not comment further while the investigation remains active and has not launched disciplinary proceedings at this stage. However, the league stated it reserves the right to take action depending on the outcome of the inquiry and reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of its competitions.

Wahi is the second World Cup participant to encounter entry issues in Canada during the tournament. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was previously refused a visa because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom. Canadian authorities also rejected a subsequent appeal seeking temporary entry for the player to participate in Ghana’s World Cup fixture against Panama.

Elye Wahi Denied Entry to Canada Ahead of Ivory Coast’s World Cup Clash with Germany

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