Ivory Coast is facing a significant setback ahead of its toughest group-stage match of the FIFA World Cup in Toronto. The Elephants will have to take on Germany without starting striker Elye Wahi, who has been denied entry to Canada from the United States. This development rules him out of Saturday's key Group E encounter.
Visa Issue Linked to Match-Fixing Allegations
The visa issue stems from reports that the 23-year-old forward was arrested last month over his alleged involvement in spot-fixing while playing for his club team, Nice, in France's Ligue 1. Wahi has been accused of deliberately receiving a yellow card during a match against Metz to manipulate betting markets.
French Police Investigation
The Marseille public prosecutor's office issued a statement to The Athletic, which initially reported on Wahi's arrest, confirming the arrest of an unnamed player fitting Wahi's description. The statement read: "We can confirm that a 23-year-old football player, competing in France's Ligue 1, was arrested on May 29 as part of an investigation opened by the Marseille public prosecutor's office into allegations of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering."
The player was released after being interviewed in police custody, and the investigations remain ongoing. The outlet reported that multiple sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Wahi is the subject of the investigation.
Ivory Coast Football Federation Response
Ivory Coast's football federation (FIF) issued a statement about the situation, saying that it had not been told of any "judicial or administrative proceedings" against Wahi while also confirming the player had not been authorized to enter Canada. The FIF also reaffirmed that Wahi is "an important element" of the team and that he will not join the squad on its trip to Toronto and will remain in the U.S.
Wahi had started for his country against Ecuador during their opening match in Philadelphia and played 56 minutes before being substituted out.
Previous Denials of Entry to Canada
Wahi is not the first African star to be denied entry to Canada during the World Cup. Star midfielder Thomas Partey was unable to compete during Ghana's tournament opener against Panama on Wednesday night in Toronto after he also was denied entry to the country.
Partey is set to stand trial on multiple allegations of rape later this year and failed to disclose the charges on his visa application. The former Arsenal player was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London's Metropolitan Police in July 2025 and pleaded not guilty later that year. He was then charged with two additional counts of rape this past February, again to which he pleaded not guilty.
FIFA confirmed that Partey was "unable to travel" for the match and that his visa application was denied. The player and Ghana's football association had appealed Canadian immigration to allow for Partey's entry earlier this week, but were again denied.
Following Ghana's late win over Panama on Wednesday, goal-scorer Caleb Yirenkyi was asked about Partey but a staff member with the team quickly ended his question-and-answer time in the mixed zone with reporters. Partey will be eligible to play against England on June 23 in Boston and against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
