World Cup setback for Côte d’Ivoire as Canada blocks Wahi’s entry

Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi has been denied a visa to enter Canada ahead of the Elephants’ second Group A match against Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed on Thursday that the forward would not be travelling with the team to Toronto for Saturday’s fixture.

“Elye Wahi will not be able to travel with the delegation to Canada,” the federation said in a brief statement, without giving reasons for the visa refusal.

However, the development comes as the 23-year-old is under investigation in France over allegations of spot-fixing during a French Ligue 1 match involving his club, Nice, and Metz in May.

Spot-fixing refers to the deliberate manipulation of specific incidents in a match, such as bookings, to influence betting outcomes.

French betting operators reportedly detected an unusual volume of wagers placed on Wahi receiving a yellow card during the game and alerted authorities.

On Wednesday, the French Professional Football League (LFP) announced that it had filed a complaint with the police over what it described as possible “sporting fraud and organised corruption.”

Wahi, who was born in France to Ivorian parents, switched his international allegiance to Ivory Coast earlier this year and made his debut for the Elephants in March.

He featured in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their opening World Cup match on Sunday.

The striker becomes the second player at the tournament to face entry issues involving Canada. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was also reportedly denied entry due to legal proceedings linked to a sexual assault case in the United States.